Andoni Iraola confirms talks with clubs before Liverpool appointment

Andoni Iraola’s appointment as Liverpool head coach was completed within days, but the Basque was first linked with a move to Anfield more than a decade ago.

Sporting director Richard Hughes moved swiftly to secure Iraola in early June, with Liverpool officially appointing him less than a week after Arne Slot’s departure.

Interest from Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen failed to develop, before Liverpool made their move.

Hughes, who originally brought Andoni Iraola to England during his time at Bournemouth, played a key role in convincing him to take charge at Anfield.

“It was actually all quite fast,” says Andoni Iraola. “Honestly, yes it was true that I was talking with some clubs, I think it was the first or second week after the season ended.

“But it happened quite fast. They contacted me, and it didn’t take a lot [to say yes].

“The process with Bournemouth was very, very clean. I still have a very, very good relationship with everyone there. We decided to announce it when it was good for both sides.

“They knew sometime before. I decided not to make any decision before the season finished. We were fighting for European places, we were fighting for the Champions League in the last game of the season.

“I didn’t want to spend time thinking about what I was doing before the season ended. Only then I started to think: ‘Ok what is next?’ That is when I had my plan.”

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