The former Liverpool boss has already had his say about the Spaniard, who has now been confirmed as Liverpool’s new manager.
Legendary former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has long since said exactly what he thinks of Andoni Iraola. –
Two seasons after leaving Anfield, Klopp is still much loved by the club’s supporters. He led Liverpool to eight major titles during his nine years at Anfield – including the Champions League title in 2018/19 and the Premier League title in 2019/20. Many fans still dream of getting the German back on the bench.
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While we are still waiting for a return, Klopp’s opinion on everything to do with football, coaching careers and especially Liverpool, is as valuable as ever.
Bournemouth manager Iraola, who led the “Cherries” to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season, with entertaining and creative football, is raising hopes that Mohamed Salah will turn around and stay. – Liverpool’s biggest star missed exactly the football that Iraola stands for in Arne Slot’s scheme.
Klopp’s verdict on Iraola
Klopp faced Iraola three times during his time at Liverpool – and the German won all three games.
However, that didn’t stop the 58-year-old greats from showering his coaching colleague with praise ahead of Liverpool’s 4-0 win on the south coast in January 2024.
“It was obviously a very difficult start for him at Bournemouth, with the change of manager and all those things,” Klopp said at a press conference.
“I didn’t know much about him, about his colleague. At the start of the season, the results were poor – which can happen if you don’t look at Bournemouth properly.
“Then they turned it around – wow.
“It’s real coaching, I have to say. He found a way to set up this team, and they have a very good mix.
“They play football, find direction in the right moments. They use Dom Solanke in a sensational way – the support he gets from midfield and from the wings.
“The way they defend is very good – very compact. So that’s right,” Klopp said.
Iraola, who joined from Rayo Vallecano in 2023, had a tough start in England. Bournemouth did not win any of their first nine games of the 2023/24 season, before eventually coming back and finishing in 12th place. The team built on this in the following seasons, with a ninth and a sixth place respectively.
Gerrard’s approval
Part of the problem that many Liverpool supporters had with Arne Slot was the team’s sometimes conservative – and by some called “boring” – style of play. Iraola’s energetic strategy is much more similar to Klopp’s team from the heyday.
On Saturday, May 30, Klopp’s former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard shared his thoughts on Iraola’s possible arrival. Gerrard claimed that “his style would suit Liverpool”.
When asked if Iraola would be the right appointment, he replied:
“I think potentially yes. I think he has done a fantastic job at Bournemouth.
Andoni Iraola knows this is a job that will change his life forever. “We wish you good luck and we think Jürgen Klopp will too!
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