Andoni Iraola made over 500 appearances for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga as a right-back during his playing career.
Image Credits: Imago Images
Andoni Iraola has responded to questions on when Liverpool reportedly attempted to sign him as a player back in 2013.
The Spaniard made over 500 appearances for Athletic Bilbao during a playing career that spanned 13 seasons as a professional footballer.
UK ONLY
He spent 12 seasons at Athletic Club from 2003 to 2015, then a further season with New York City FC in MLS before retiring in late 2016.
The 44-year-old also managed to earn 7 caps for the Spanish national team.
Athletic Bilbao is unique in modern football as they have unwritten rule whereby the club will only sign players who were born in the Basque Country or who learned their football skills at a Basque club.
And it seems that may have played a part in Liverpool’s ultimately unsuccessful attempt to bring the then 29-year-old to Anfield as a player.
Back in late 2013, as Brendan Rodgers looked to refine a Liverpool team that would soon challenge for the title, the recruitment department identified Iraola as a potential solution at right-back.
Speaking to the Athletic, Iraola was hesitant to share the story so early on in his tenure:
“I don’t know if I want to tell you this story so early in my career here,” he said.
“I would like to win some games and have more time first. I wouldn’t like to use it this early. If you remind me in some months, you can ask again! But I don’t like to do this from the beginning, as it looks like I am selling myself.”
He then went on to add that the move “did not come to close” as he was loyal to Athletic Bilbao:
“It didn’t come close because I never wanted to leave Athletic Club,” the Spaniard said. “For me, Athletic Club was the place to be.”
“When I eventually left (in the summer of 2015) to play in MLS (for New York City FC), it was completely different. I went before I almost became a problem for the club. I was 33 and said: ‘OK, maybe now is the moment to go; if I stay, I’ll start fewer games and play a different role’.
Now, as Liverpool’s head coach, Iraola can smile about that near‑miss and the long arc that has brought him to Anfield in a different role.
In recent interviews he has drawn parallels between Athletic and Liverpool as community clubs, and spoken about respecting the supporters’ passion while trying not to become “the protagonist” himself.
Andoni Iraola