Jürgen Klopp's verdict on Andoni Iraola before Liverpool links speaks volumes

Legendary former Liverpool head coach Jürgen Klopp has already revealed exactly what he thinks about Andoni Iraola.

Two seasons on from his Anfield departure, Klopp, who guided Liverpool to eight major honours during his nine-year tenure at Anfield – including the 2018/19 Champions League and 2019/20 Premier League titles – is revered by the club’s supporters, with most wanting the German back in the dugout.

And while that appears wishful thinking, even following Arne Slot’s shock sacking after just two seasons in the job, Klopp’s opinion on all things football, coaching and especially Liverpool remains as valuable as ever.

Departing Bournemouth boss Iraola, who guided the Cherries to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last term, is due to engage in formal talks over a move to Anfield this week, despite the Reds also showing interest in Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß and Lens boss Pierre Sage.

Klopp's stance on Iraola

Klopp faced Iraola three times during his tenure at Liverpool, with the German winning all three matches.

However, this did not prevent the 58-year-old from lavishing his fellow coach with praise before Liverpool’s 4-0 win on the south coast in January 2024.

“It was obviously a really difficult start for him at Bournemouth with the manager change and all these kinds of things,” Klopp said in a press conference.

“I didn’t know a lot about him, about the colleague. At the start of the season, the results were bad, which, if you don’t have a proper look at Bournemouth, can happen.

“They turned it around, wow.

“That’s real coaching, I have to say, and he found a way to set this team up and they have a really good mix.

“They play football, they find direction in the right moments, they use Dom Solanke in a sensational way: the support he gets from the centre and from the wings.

“The way they defend, really good, really compact. So that’s proper.”

Iraola, who joined from Rayo Vallecano in 2023, endured a tough start to life in England, with Bournemouth failing to win any of their first nine matches of the 2023/24 campaign before eventually recovering to a 12th-place finish. The side built on this in the subsequent campaigns, finishing ninth and sixth, respectively.

Gerrard's seal of approval

Part of most Liverpool supporters’ issue with Slot was his team’s at-times conservative and, as some called it, “boring” style of play, but Iraola’s high-energy strategy is much closer to that of Klopp’s teams of the past.

Speaking on Saturday (May 30), Klopp’s fellow Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard offered his thoughts on the potential arrival of Iraola, with the Liverpudlian claiming his “style would suit Liverpool”.

When asked if Iraola would be the right appointment, he said: “I think potentially, yes. I think he's done a fabulous job at Bournemouth.”

The Scouser added: “But let's not beat around the bush. Liverpool Football Club is an attractive job for a lot of elite managers around the world.

“So I don't think he'll be the only name on the table. But because of the link to Bournemouth and the guys who have come from Bournemouth to Liverpool in terms of board-level appointments, they will know him very well.

“But there are other names out there as well that I'm sure will want that Liverpool job. It's a huge job in world football.

“But, to answer your question, I think he should be in the conversation, yes.”