Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes Andoni Iraola’s Premier League experience will help him settle into his new role at Anfield.
Iraola was appointed Liverpool’s new head coach last month after Arne Slot was dismissed just 12 months after guiding the club to a record-equalling 20th league title.
The Spaniard becomes only the second Spanish manager to take charge of Liverpool, following Benitez, who led the club between 2004 and 2010.
Benitez, 66, believes Iraola will receive strong support from the fans thanks to his attacking style of football and impressive work during his time at Bournemouth
“Iraola has done really well obviously in Bournemouth as you have seen,” said Rafael Benitez.
“But then we were following him when he was in Rayo Vallecano. One of the members of my staff was watching him training and he told me after that he liked it because he (Iraola) was involved, he’s trying to do things on the pitch all the time.
“Bournemouth has done really well and now he has a different challenge.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Benitez added: “It’s (Liverpool) a massive club. But I think he has an advantage – he knows the league.
“That is not easy. At the beginning when we arrived to the Premier League, it was totally different. But he knows the league.
“The fans will be very supportive, for sure. The way that he wants to play, I think they like that. And I think he has great possibilities to do well.”
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