Andoni Iraola joined Liverpool after the club had spoken to other clubs, then "things moved quite fast" to bring him to Anfield. In his first conference he said he wanted to give fans "a team to be proud of" and stressed an attacking brand of football.

The former Spain international, who spent 12 seasons with Athletic Club, sees similarities between his hometown club and his new home. Athletic Club’s Basque‑only policy means it can only use players born or developed in the Basque country, a system that "maximises every player" and never sells them for another. He praised the sense of belonging and connection that creates a winning culture.

Iraola noted that many top Premier League coaches – Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery trimes and Xabi Alonso – are Basque, and asked why so many Basque managers reach the top. He said a collective mindset is vital; Spanish teams excel in collective sports and always put the team first, as exemplified by players like Rodri who won the World Cup best‑player award without scoring or assisting.

He added that Spanish coaching varies, but "tiki‑taka" passing and high pressing have become part of the national identity, and that Liverpool can adopt this pro‑active, team‑first approach.