Q&AAndoni Iraola interview: 'I understand what is expected and I'm ready for the challenge'
The 43-year-old has agreed to take up the position ahead of the 2026-27 season, following three eye-catching years in the Premier League leading AFC Bournemouth.
In part one of our exclusive chat with the new Reds boss at the AXA Training Centre, Iraola shared his excitement about joining, as well as discussing his fit to the club, plans for the future and more.
Read on for the transcript, and return to Liverpoolfc.com on Saturday morning for the second part of the interview.
Andoni, welcome to Liverpool. Tell us about how you feel sat here in the Liverpool tracksuit...
Really excited, really excited, because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it's a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world. But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it's a special club. Not about the football side, also because what people think about even during the week, how they are passionate about the club and everyone, the ones who like football, the ones that probably are not as interested. But I have some experience with Athletic Club [as a player] that I could in some ways familiarise, but it's going to be fun to experience it from the inside.
- Watch Iraola's first interview as head coach free on All Red Video
And that's part of the excitement that you allude to there – that Liverpool Football Club is an obsession for people in the city as well. That's attractive to you, is it?
Yes, it matters a lot to everyone. Football at the end is about emotion. I understand it's also a privilege but also a big responsibility, because all those people want to be represented properly and we are here for this. I would love from my side, from the players' side, so all those people, [to] identify also with the football, identify with the values of the squad and we are all in for this.
It's a huge challenge, it's a football challenge as well, so what attracted you to that part, the footballing side of the club?
I think you don't need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool. But obviously the atmosphere, the supporters, the club, the players, the chance for me to coach top-level players, the chance to fight for titles. I think it cannot be more attractive than this. It's difficult to find it. So, really excited to start, yes.
Richard Hughes is somebody that you know very well. Tell us about the conversations that you had with him about the position...
Obviously it helps a lot when on the other side of the table there is someone who you have already worked with. We were one year together [at Bournemouth]. But in this case, I would say it's about the club, it's about Liverpool – it's what really attracted me. I think now I am looking forward to getting all the information. I'm talking to everyone so I can understand better the club, everything that happens outside the pitch. We still have time, we still have one month until we really start working with the players, but I would like to use this month also properly to arrive here in the proper way.
Does that timing work out well that you do have that little bit of time? The season has only just finished, so you get the time to put the plan in action and have that little bit of breathing space almost...
Yes, at the end everything has happened very quickly really. We just finished the season and it's when we really started thinking, 'OK, what's going to be the next step?' And now that we know what's happening, I want to get ready. Also the World Cup being there, we will have a chance to work especially with some of the young players. Because a lot of senior players being out and arriving later because of the World Cup, I think it gives us the chance to know better the players from the Academy, some of the players that have been on loan. They will be an important part of the first part of pre-season, the American tour. And I think in that way it works very well for us because it will give us a lot of information before we really take decisions before we start the season.
So you see that as almost an advantage, then, that the younger players, you get the chance to integrate that identity with them, even though the senior players might still be away after the World Cup...
Yes, I think it's important in both ways. The senior players that have played in the World Cup, they've been feeling the pressure, they've been playing for their countries, I think they need and deserve a rest. And also this allows us to give also important minutes to train more closely with the young players that probably we don't know as well. Because we've been here already three seasons, playing a lot of times against Liverpool, and there are players that we already know. But there are other players probably that haven't had the minutes, have played for the development squad, have been on loan somewhere, and I think those trainings, those minutes will be very valuable for us to take decisions.
You spoke about the supporters at the start – they're eager to find out what your style is. From your mouth, what would you tell them about that?
I think I have the advantage that I've been here already three years in the Premier League and people for sure have seen Bournemouth play. There are some things that obviously we need to change coaching Liverpool. But I wouldn't like to lose our identity, the intensity, the aggressiveness, the organisation, certain things that I would like always to have in my team. Obviously you have to adapt to the players you have and it's not the same, one club or the other, but there are fundamentals that I also think match quite well [with] what Liverpool has been during a lot of years that I think we can make it work.
Have you thought about what Anfield will feel like for you when you come out of the tunnel and turn right and walk into that technical area as their manager?
I've been the other side – I still remember the goal [Federico] Chiesa scored at the end of the first game of the season! We were there with 2-2 thinking that probably we could take something. He scored and the place erupted. It was crazy, no? I want now to feel this from the other side. At the beginning when you arrive at any club, I think you need to kind of prove a little bit yourself. You need to earn the right also to belong. I want to do this as quickly as possible so I can also celebrate with them and I can be part properly of those celebrations.
Being the manager and celebrating a goal will be so special…
For me, football is about emotions. About passion. I'm quite cool-headed probably, during my life quite rational, I would say. But it's true that when the game starts, when you have to celebrate a goal, something is inside, no? I think this inner energy, you need it as a player, you need it as a supporter, you need it as a coach. No better place than Anfield.
What are your ambitions here?
I think Liverpool gives me the chance to coach top players, and top players give you the chance to fight for titles. To win titles. Obviously when you arrive at a place, you cannot promise everything. You cannot promise. But it's true that I understand where I'm coming and what is expected. I'm ready for the challenge.
And fans seeing the interview today all over the world, what would you say to them?
I cannot ask them for a lot. I know how they are. I can only say that I want to become one more of you. I want to earn the right to be one of you, so we can enjoy all together.
Sum it up for us... you sit here as a manager that wants to come in and do big things at Liverpool. How big a day is it for you, for your family and your roots in football?
I think it's a day that is not only for me. You are what has been your life, what have been your influences. I'm coming from a very small town, working-class, outside of San Sebastian. I've had my journey to become a football player. I've had my journey starting in Cyprus, going through the divisions, promotion, arriving in La Liga, then the Premier League. Now you arrive here and a lot of people have helped you during this process. And every time now I receive a message, I think you have to remember all those people that have helped you, that have influenced you. I'm now motivated to show all these people, 'OK, we've made it together and now let's enjoy it also.'
- Check out part two of our interview with Iraola on Liverpoolfc.com on Saturday morning