05/06/2026
From the Cypriot First Division straight to the Anfield dugout. Talk about a calculated rise to the very top for Andoni Iraola. 🚀
The 43-year-old Basque manager has played the long game perfectly over the last few years:
• 2018-19: AEK Larnaca (Cutting his teeth away from the spotlight) 🇨🇾
• 2019-20: CD Mirandés 🇪🇸
• 2020-23: Rayo Vallecano (Proving his worth in La Liga) 🇪🇸
• 2023-26: AFC Bournemouth (Overachieving in the toughest league on earth) 🇬🇧
• 2026-?: Liverpool FC (The ultimate test) 🇬🇧
Make no mistake, succeeding at Anfield is a completely different beast to anything he’s faced before. The demands from The Kop for immediate silverware will be relentless from day one.
Yet, speaking at his official unveiling, Iraola looked completely unfazed by the magnitude of the job:“I am 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. Liverpool is Liverpool.”
With his high-octane, front-footed pressing style, a fascinating new era is officially underway on Merseyside.
Reds, looking at his tactical pedigree, do you believe Iraola is the man to bring the Premier League title back to Anfield? Or is the step up too steep? Have your say below. 👇