Patrick Vieira saw Andoni Iraola's 'tactical knowledge' long before Liverpool
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Future Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola received warm praise about his tactical prowess from his then-NYCFC manager Patrick Vieira during his stint at the club in 2016Andoni Iraola lined up alongside Frank Lampard and other legends for NYCFC in 2016(Image: Getty Images)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.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.“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 made 38 appearances for NYCFC(Image: Getty Images)Iraola retired after the 2016 campaign and set out to obtain his coaching badges. The Spanish manager did one better this season, leading Bournemouth to a sixth-place finish with 57 points.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.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).Former Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola sang Iraola's praises in 2023.