What Jürgen Klopp said about Andoni Iraola before the Liverpool rumors says a lot
Legendary former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has already shared his thoughts on Andoni Iraola.
It’s been two seasons since Klopp left Anfield. During his nine years in charge, he won eight big trophies with Liverpool — including the 2018/19 Champions League and the 2019/20 Premier League titles. He remains a fan favorite, with many hoping he might return one day.
While that seems unlikely, especially after Arne Slot’s surprise sacking after just two seasons, Klopp’s views on football, coaching, and Liverpool still carry a lot of weight.
Andoni Iraola, who recently left Bournemouth after leading them to a 6th place Premier League finish last season, is expected to have formal talks about managing Liverpool this week. The Reds are also interested in Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß and Lens’ Pierre Sage.
Klopp met Iraola three times while managing Liverpool and won all three games. Still, Klopp has praised Iraola’s coaching, especially after Liverpool’s 4-0 win at Bournemouth in January 2024.
“It was obviously a tough start for him at Bournemouth with the managerial change and everything,” Klopp said at a press conference. “I didn’t know much about him at first. Their start to the season was rough, but if you really look at Bournemouth, that can happen. Then they turned it around — wow.
“That’s real coaching, for sure. He found a way to organize the team with a good mix of players. They play well, know when to attack, and use Dom Solanke brilliantly. Their defense is solid and compact. That’s proper football.”
Iraola joined from Rayo Vallecano in 2023 and had a rough start in England with Bournemouth, going winless in the first nine games of the 2023/24 season. But the team recovered to finish 12th, then improved to 9th and 6th in the following seasons.
Many Liverpool fans were unhappy with Slot’s sometimes cautious and “boring” style. Iraola’s energetic approach feels much more like Klopp’s exciting teams from the past.
On May 30, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard shared his thoughts on Iraola possibly coming to Anfield, saying his style “would suit Liverpool.”
When asked if Iraola would be the right choice, Gerrard said, “I think potentially, yes. He’s done a great job at Bournemouth.”
He added, “Liverpool is a huge job that lots of top managers want. Iraola won’t be the only name considered. But because of the connections between Bournemouth and Liverpool’s board, they know him well. Still, there are other candidates out there. But yes, he should definitely be in the conversation.”