The Guardian points out that Iraola, who advocates attacking play, is an ideal candidate to turn around Liverpool's style of play. Iraola is already one of the most sought-after coaches in football today, and not long ago he led AFC Bournemouth to a new club record. His coaching achievements over the past three seasons are sufficient to prove his outstanding coaching ability. Previously, there were rumors that Real Madrid was interested in inviting him to coach, which Iraola once dismissed with a smile, saying that he was unwilling to accommodate a host of big-name stars. Even though AFC Bournemouth continuously lost key players, his performance was not affected.
Courage is the keyword repeatedly mentioned by everyone who has worked closely with Iraola, and it is also the quality that makes him stand out. Under his guidance, AFC Bournemouth has shone brightly in the Premier League, and this boldness is evident.
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has long been following Iraola. This time, he is no longer inviting Iraola to take over a team struggling to avoid relegation, replacing O'Neil, but hopes this renowned coach will transform this world-class club and help the team regain the vibrant spirit of a championship team.
Slot was eventually dismissed due to the team's weak title defense. AFC Bournemouth, under Iraola, has always played aggressively and is unwilling to be mediocre. Of course, he also encountered a difficult situation in the early stages of his coaching career, with nine winless rounds, which is still hard to understand in retrospect. Iraola knows that if Liverpool fails to win a Premier League match for three consecutive months at the start of next season, the club will certainly not show the same patience as AFC Bournemouth did back then.
Last August, Semenyo scored twice against Liverpool. Iraola honed this young player, originally brought in from Bristol City, into a talent.
"This journey has been full of ups and downs," Iraola remarked to fans after leading AFC Bournemouth to its first-ever European competition. He also mentioned the slump at the beginning of the season, as November approached. "We started very badly, and I'm sure everyone was wondering at the time: is this guy any good?"
Today, Iraola is one of the most sought-after coaches in football, having recently led AFC Bournemouth to a new club record. Premier League teams have long admired his coaching philosophy, and his achievements over the past three seasons attest to his outstanding coaching ability. He and his coaching staff meticulously develop every player, enhancing their pressing intensity and defensive recovery, enabling many players to make significant career leaps. Antoine Semenyo is a prime example; this player, who was quite raw when he first joined, has made remarkable progress. The same applies to Senesi, whose contract expires this summer and will leave as a free agent. Youngster James Hill has recently shown impressive performances, attracting attention from all quarters, even from the England national team coaching staff.
Hughes had spotted Iraola when he was coaching Rayo Vallecano. At that time, Rayo Vallecano performed well after being promoted to La Liga, and Hughes then successfully persuaded Iraola to take over AFC Bournemouth. At that time, the team finished fifteenth in the league, just five points above the relegation zone. Speaking about the goals of taking over the team, Iraola stated: "The club's core demand is not just results, but also a change in style of play: to adjust the approach, become more aggressive, more proactive, and play fearless football."
Overall, the 43-year-old Iraola is the ideal candidate to help Liverpool reverse its recent slump and reshape the team's style. Iraola has always believed that offense is the best defense, and under him, AFC Bournemouth's games are highly entertaining. After his first coaching season, he once said: "If all ten players on the field retreat to defend, I feel very passive."
The home game against Fulham last October was a typical example. In the 78th minute, AFC Bournemouth was still one goal down. Iraola decisively replaced center-back Senesi and defensive midfielder Tyler Adams with two attacking players – Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon-Dook, both of whom had also been transformed under his guidance. After the substitutions, the team quickly equalized and eventually came from behind to win 3-1.
A week earlier, at Elland Road, Crupi helped the team snatch a draw in injury time. Towards the end of that match, there were only two dedicated defenders left on the field. In his first coaching season, the team came back from 0-3 down at halftime against Luton to win 4-3; in the second season, away at Everton, the team scored three goals after the 86th minute to win 3-2. Iraola joked: "We had Dango Ouattara playing left-back, but he was constantly pushing forward throughout the match, barely staying in a defensive position."
A senior staff member at AFC Bournemouth said: "Iraola's goal is to win every game, which has shaped the team's distinct identity. His substitution strategy is very methodical; he almost always fields all available attackers in every match and gives them ample time to change the game. He wants substitutes to maintain the pace and intensity of play from the start. As long as there are players on the bench who can improve performance, he will decisively use them. No one questions his attitude of fighting for victory in every game, and his playing style itself is highly entertaining."
Interestingly, in January this year, AFC Bournemouth defeated Liverpool 3-2 at home, having been 2-0 up at one point and ultimately securing the win in injury time. After this match, Iraola admitted that the team had also learned to assess the situation. "Previously, we attacked fiercely from the start until the end; now we understand how to control the pace of the game."
Subsequently, AFC Bournemouth remained unbeaten in several matches against similarly ranked opponents. This achievement greatly pleased Iraola and further enhanced his reputation. The team went through a period of six draws in seven matches, and he instructed his players to cherish every point.
Liverpool's squad will undergo a major overhaul this summer, but this will not bother Iraola. Last season, several key AFC Bournemouth players transferred away, with total transfer revenue exceeding £250 million. Despite private disappointments, Iraola calmly handled the player departures. Last summer, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, and Kerkez transferred to Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Liverpool respectively; in January this year, Semenyo joined Manchester City. Even with the continuous loss of core players, AFC Bournemouth's performance was not affected. After his first coaching season, the team sold Dominic Solanke for a club-record £65 million. Now, Alex Scott, Crupi, and Rayan in the squad have performed exceptionally well this season, and their market values have significantly increased.
Previously, there were rumors that Real Madrid was interested in inviting him to coach, which Iraola once dismissed with a smile, saying that he was unwilling to accommodate a host of big-name stars. But beneath his friendly and approachable exterior, he is by no means an ordinary person.
Outside of training, he enjoys playing football trivia with his coaching staff. Last season, he even traveled specifically to Dorset to officiate his daughter's U11 team match. He loves local cultures and travel; local chain ferries and Japanese Shinkansen can pique his interest.
At the same time, he is intelligent and demanding, managing his team with clear rewards and punishments, and the team's rest days are very few. As a player, this Basque spent sixteen years with his hometown team Athletic Bilbao, always adhering to the highest professional standards; after retiring, he played alongside Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo for New York City FC. After transitioning to coaching, Iraola's next journey is bound to be continuously exciting.
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