TobyWrites@tobyasky
I just love when managers walk their way to the top, there's a sense of achievement and deservedness.
After his playing career at Bilbao, and retiring in the US, Iraola took a bold step to go to AEK Larnaca in Cyprus to coach, he proved himself immediately by winning the cup.
He came back home in Spain to Mirandes, they were in the Segunda division and he dragged them to the semi finals of Copa Del Rey, while beating few La Liga teams on the way.
He moved to Rayo Vallecano, also in the Segunda and promoted them to La Liga. The crazy thing about him is that he has a known style of play and very adaptable too.
Rayo got to the final of the Conference league this season, its not a fluke because guess who their coach is? Yes, Iñigo Pérez, who was Iraola's assistant.
Bill Foley, Bournemouth's owner and the Bournemouth hierarchy like Richard Hughes wanted to play in a particular way, they had been monitoring Iraola for a long time, eventually, they found out that he was available, they grabbed him so quick, sacking Gary O'Neil who had just saved them from relegating.
Iraola took Bournemouth to Europe for the first time in their history, while losing top players like Semenyo, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Solanke, and many more, on the way.
Liverpool players should be ready because he is a very demanding coach. Semenyo once said that immediately Iraola arrived at Bournemouth, they were training Monday to Sunday, something he'd never experienced before.
The mastermind behind this move is Richard Hughes, he was the Technical Director at Bournemouth, he sacked Gary O'Neil for Iraola. He is now the Sporting Director at Liverpool, he has just sacked Slot for Iraola again😅. He knows the Iraola train passes only once.
Congratulations to Andoni, I'm one of his biggest fans, and I think he suits Liverpool. Liverpool fans are going to see some serious high and aggressive hybrid pressing, they're also going to see some vertical and direct football which they're quite used to under Klopp and Slot's first season.
When they win the ball back, Iraola hates backward passes, he wants the ball played forward asap, in summary, quick transitions. I'm excited, are you?