Andoni Iraola has received a glowing assessment from his former player Alex Scott after being officially confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach.
Speaking for the first time since joining the Reds on Thursday, the 43-year-old Spaniard immediately impressed supporters with his calmness, enthusiasm, and apparent understanding of the club’s values.
For Liverpool fans who grew frustrated by the turgid, slow, and often dull football churned out by Arne Slot’s team last season, Iraola’s arrival feels like the perfect tonic to help them fall back in love with the club.
The perfect psychological fit for the squad
One potential concern raised by pundits is Iraola’s incredibly understated and modest demeanor, which stands in stark contrast to Jurgen Klopp and even Arne Slot. In a worst-case scenario, a job as massive as Liverpool could crush a manager who lacks a commanding ego.
However, Scott insists this will not happen and guarantees that the Basque manager will command immediate respect in the dressing room. When asked if the star-studded Liverpool squad will respond to him, Scott was definitive.
“I believe so, yes. He has done it with us and, obviously, Liverpool is a bigger club and a massive club in the Premier League, but I believe there is no reason why he can’t go in there and be a top manager and take them back to the level they were at,” Scott said via The Athletic
Replicating the early Jurgen Klopp blueprint
Perhaps the biggest reason supporters are celebrating Iraola’s arrival is his tactical philosophy. The Spaniard demands his teams be front-footed and fiercely aggressive elements that have been sorely missing on Merseyside since Jurgen Klopp departed in 2024.
According to Scott, who spent three successful seasons progressing under Iraola on the south coast, Liverpool fans should prepare themselves for a throwback to the mid-2010s
“He is obviously a great manager; you see what we have done as a club at Bournemouth and how we have progressed over the three seasons he was with us. I think the way we press out of possession is very aggressive, maybe similar to the early Klopp teams Liverpool had, that fierce aggressiveness and pressing with the wingers. I would say he is similar to that. Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited.”
A proven track record of elite player development
Liverpool already boast an incredibly talented squad, including several high-profile signings from last summer who didn’t entirely click under the previous regime. Supporters can rest assured that Iraola will introduce tailored, individual work programs to unlock their full potential.
Scott highlighted his own massive developmental leap under the Spaniard as proof of Iraola’s elite coaching credentials.
“I have improved loads this season, out of possession and in possession. I feel like I have had his trust. Defensively, maybe in my first two seasons, I wasn’t at the level to be playing in the Premier League and that is something I had to learn on and learn from the players ahead of me in the team.
“But he put his trust in me from the first game of the season and I started and played 34 full games this year, so that is something to be really proud of. Injury-free as well, which I was happy with.
The manager has been amazing for me, working with me going forward, defensively, being more aggressive, and that is the reason I played most games this season.”
Read Liverpool FC Verdict
After a deeply frustrating and stagnant season under Arne Slot, the appointment of Andoni Iraola feels like a breath of fresh air. Hearing Alex Scott compare Iraola’s tactical setup to early-era Jurgen Klopp is exactly what Kopites have been desperate to hear.
The squad currently possesses the technical engine required for high-pressing football, but they lacked the tactical direction and aggression last term.
Iraola’s proven ability to dramatically improve players individually as seen with Scott’s defensive transformation suggests he can quickly revitalise underperforming squad members. If the board backs him in the market (perhaps by bringing Scott along with him), the Iraola era could be a thrilling ride.
