If Liverpool supporters want to understand why Andoni Iraola is being linked so strongly with the Anfield job, they should look back to one of the most exciting teams in European football over a decade ago.
Many will remember that outstanding Athletic Bilbao side managed by Marcelo Bielsa.
A team packed with talent.
A team full of intensity.
And a team that played football in a way Liverpool supporters would instantly recognise and appreciate.
At the heart of it all was the captain.
Andoni Iraola.
That Athletic Bilbao side featured some outstanding players:
- Iker Muniain
- Ander Herrera
- Javi Martínez
- Fernando Llorente
Yet perhaps the most important figure was Iraola himself.
As captain, he became the on-field leader of a team built around Bielsa’s footballing philosophy.
And that philosophy was relentless.
Under Bielsa, Athletic Bilbao became known for:
- Aggressive pressing
- High intensity
- Positional discipline
- Front-foot football
- Relentless work ethic
They overwhelmed opponents.
They hunted the ball aggressively.
They attacked with courage.
And they played with an energy that made them one of the most entertaining sides in Europe.
Sound familiar?
It should.
Those are many of the same qualities Liverpool supporters fell in love with during Jurgen Klopp’s reign.
What makes Iraola such an interesting candidate is that these ideas were not learned from books or coaching courses.
He lived them.
Day after day.
Season after season.
As captain, he was effectively an extension of Bielsa on the pitch.
He understood exactly what was required to make that style function.
The demands.
The sacrifices.
The intensity.
The standards.
That influence is clearly visible in the manager Iraola has become.
At Bournemouth, his teams have developed a reputation for being:
- Brave
- Energetic
- Aggressive
- Organised
- And incredibly difficult to play against
Even when operating with fewer resources than many Premier League rivals, his teams consistently compete through work rate and intensity.
That is not a coincidence.
Those foundations were laid years ago in Bilbao.
Liverpool’s hierarchy have reportedly concluded that the team needs to move back towards a more aggressive style of football.
Many supporters have reached the same conclusion.
Too often last season Liverpool looked passive.
Too often they lacked urgency.
Too often they appeared to have lost their identity.
Iraola’s football represents the exact opposite.
That does not guarantee success.
Managing Bournemouth and managing Liverpool are very different challenges.
Expectations at Anfield are among the highest in world football.
But what cannot be questioned is whether his footballing philosophy aligns with what Liverpool supporters want to see.
It absolutely does.
And when people ask why Andoni Iraola is such an attractive candidate, the answer may actually begin long before Bournemouth.
It begins in Bilbao.
Under Marcelo Bielsa.
Where Liverpool’s potential future manager learned the principles that still define him today.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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