Why Liverpool ended a decade-long wait to capture Andoni Iraola
The Basque is understood to have made clear that Anfield was his “first, second and last choice” during talks to become head coach.
The feeling that Liverpool and Andoni Iraola are a match made in heaven is only strengthened by the fact that his appointment as head coach marks the end of a pursuit that began over a decade ago.
At that point, the Reds were keen to snap up Iraola the right-back, who had established himself as a standout in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao.
But a move never materialised, with the Basque preferring to instead spend the entirety of his career (bar a pre-retirement stint in New York) with the club that so proudly represents the region he calls home.
Still, Liverpool continued to watch on with admiration as Iraola took his first steps into coaching, and have been sufficiently impressed by stints at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth to finally go and get their man.
That, it is understood, owes much to the Jurgen Klopp-like, aggressive style of play he espouses, an approach the Reds were determined to return to after losing their way somewhat under Arne Slot.
This commitment to a philosophy more inkeeping with modern Liverpool meant the former Spain international quickly rose to the top of a shortlist that also featured Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Lens’ Pierre Sage.
As such, he was the only candidate who entered into one-to-one talks, and is said to have significantly boosted his chances by making clear that Anfield was his “first, second and last choice”.
The contrast with his former teammate in youth football, Xabi Alonso, who was not quite as keen when the Reds came calling two years ago, could not be clearer.
