Andoni Iraola spent twelve years as a defender for Athletic Club, appearing in over five hundred matches for the Basque side. His loyalty to the club made him a pillar of the first team and earned him a place among the most respected players in the club's modern history.
In 2015 the centre‑back swapped the San Mamés for the Hudson River, signing with New York City FC. After a single season in Major League Soccer he announced his retirement in 2016, a move that gave him the time to explore coaching badges and begin shaping his tactical philosophy.
Iraola’s early coaching steps began at Antiguoko, the club where he had first emerged as a youth prospect. He later took charge of AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, returned to Spain with Mirandes, and then moved to Rayo Vallecano, where his clear and concise communication style helped the team punch above its weight. A subsequent spell at AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League cemented his reputation, culminating in the club’s best finish in top‑flight history.
His work did not go unnoticed; supporters’ group Third Rail presented him with the Unsung Hero award, recognizing his impact behind the scenes. The experience he gathered in New York proved pivotal, providing a laboratory for modern, data‑driven coaching methods that he would later refine in England.
A Transatlantic Coaching Odyssey
Now the 41‑year‑old is set to take the reins at Liverpool, returning to Yankee Stadium for a pre‑season friendly against Wrexham. The match will mark his first competitive appearance on the same ground where he once played for New York City FC, a symbolic full‑circle that underlines the journey from player to head coach.