What does Liverpool expect from new manager Iraola?

Liverpool is close to naming Arne Slot's replacement, having struck a deal with ex-Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. The Spanish strategist is anticipated to be the spark that revives the attacking style at Anfield.

If one had to identify a passion that defines the character of this 1982-born manager, it would undoubtedly be cycling. This partly stems from his birthplace in the Basque Country, a region in Spain that regularly hosts cycling races. Iraola is drawn to the endurance and precision displayed by cyclists in their competitions. It comes down to small details like controlling body weight.

Iraola's journey of transforming Bournemouth

He applied this approach at Bournemouth by imposing fines on any player who was overweight. Players were required to focus on repeating high-intensity drills and reacting quickly to situations. Iraola believes he learned a great deal about coaching while working with Marcelo Bielsa: "If you want to dominate space, press aggressively because you don't have much time to recover. I played under Bielsa for two seasons and understand that he is a manager who demands everything at the highest level." This is crucial because the style Iraola implemented at Bournemouth was very fast-paced, leaving players with little time to rest.

The journey to embed Iraola's style at the Vitality Stadium was far from smooth. Bournemouth's first season under Iraola began with a run of nine Premier League games without a win. That was when the Spanish manager realized he had to elevate his football to a higher level than what he had applied at Rayo Vallecano: "When I was in Spain, I built teams that played aggressively with a high pressing block, but the standard of football in England is much higher. Every team is ready to win the ball as high as possible. Bournemouth therefore had to take greater risks, playing with a higher defensive line. I cannot be satisfied seeing the whole team behind the ball." This was the factor that helped Iraola make a difference when he took over a Bournemouth that had only been focused on survival under Gary O'Neil.

The Iraola-Hughes reunion at Anfield

It was Richard Hughes, while serving as Sporting Director at Bournemouth, who pushed to bring Iraola to England in the summer of 2023 after recognizing his potential during three seasons at Rayo Vallecano. Now, Hughes is doing a similar job at Liverpool, and the prospect of reuniting with Iraola at Anfield next season is very close. Liverpool sees Iraola not only as the most outstanding candidate but also the most accessible compared to others like Sebastian Hoeness of VfB Stuttgart or Pierre Sage of Lens.

The challenges awaiting the 43-year-old coach at Anfield are entirely different from those at Bournemouth. He needs to revive one of Europe's giants, restore their pride and status as champions. One of Iraola's tasks is to recreate the fiery attacking football at Liverpool. He once stated that the best defense at Bournemouth was attack. Liverpool enjoyed nine glorious years under Jurgen Klopp with a rock-and-roll attacking style. Slot's departure after two seasons at Anfield was not only due to a poor title defense but also because the Dutchman diluted the familiar football identity of Liverpool.

Iraola will have to handpick his close assistants, as most of Slot's assistants, such as Peeters, Van Bronckhorst, and Hulshoff, have already left or will leave Liverpool. However, the Spanish manager won't be alone at Anfield, as he has the chance to reunite with his former player Milos Kerkez. It was Iraola's coaching that helped Kerkez shine at Bournemouth before moving to Liverpool last summer. The 22-year-old defender is not the only one who flourished and earned a move to an ambitious club thanks to Iraola. The Spanish manager played a major role in developing Antoine Semenyo from a raw gem at Bristol City into a rising star at Manchester City. Marcos Senesi, a new signing for Tottenham next season, is another example. Everyone is waiting to see which players Iraola will revive at Anfield during a summer of significant personnel transition for Liverpool.