Patrick Vieira saw Andoni Iraola's 'tactical knowledge' long before Liverpool

Liverpool is reportedly closing in on the hire of new coach Andoni Iraola after his successful three-year stint at the helm of Bournemouth.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that a move for the Spanish coach is imminent. Iraola, 43, had a decorated and lengthy playing career at Athletic Bilbao in his native Spain from 2003 to 2015.

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He took a retirement layover in the MLS prior to this coaching career, joining the then-expansion side NYCFC for two seasons. In 2016, he played under former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira. Speaking with the club's official site in 2016, Vieira hailed the then-34-year-old defender, citing the Spanish veteran's "tactical knowledge" as a boon to his mostly inexperienced MLS outfit.

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“He brings us a bit of his tactical knowledge, the game understands, but what I really like about Andoni is he’s really calm and tactically he’s really improved the team,” Vieira said of Iraola.

Kompany moved Iraola from right back to defensive midfield. He played alongside legends of the European game, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo, as NYCFC made the playoffs for the first time in its existence.

Iraola retired after the 2016 campaign and set out to obtain his coaching badges. In 2018, he was appointed in charge of the Cypriot side AEK Larnaca.

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His big break came in 2020, when he was named in charge of Segunda side Rayo Vallecano. Iraola led them back to the Spanish top flight at the first time of asking and had the Madrid-based club finishing mid-table for a number of years.

Iraola brought his distinct playstyle with him to Bournemouth in 2023, leading the Cherries to safety with 48 points in his first year and a club-best 56 points in 2024/25. The Spanish manager did one better this season, leading Bournemouth to a sixth-place finish with 57 points.

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His principles of play align pretty closely with ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who had the Reds playing "heavy-metal" football when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2015.

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Iraola values a quick press and numerical overloads, preferring chaotic and frantic quick buildup (like Klopp) to slow and methodical horizontal buildup (like ex-Reds coach Arne Slot).

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Former Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola sang Iraola's praises in 2023. "[Bournemouth 9s] playing offensive and attractive football. What I see is an alive team," he said. "It’s a team with good spirit, not a setback, and of course, the result gives confidence, and when you don’t have it, you can’t produce that.

"In Spain, he is one of the youngest managers that has a better future, and training in the Premier League is an incredible success for him."

Vieira managed NYCFC from 2016 to 2018. He had future coaching stints with Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, and Genoa. He starred in midfield for Arsenal from 1996 to 2005.

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