Jürgen Klopp has expressed confidence in Andoni Iraola's ability to thrive at Liverpool, though the former Anfield boss cautioned that fortune will play a crucial role in whether the new manager's project takes hold.

Klopp, speaking to ESPN, reflected on Liverpool's recent managerial upheaval following Arne Slot's departure, conceding that he lacked the inside knowledge to fully assess what went wrong last season.

"I'm not close enough to judge that. I was super happy they won the league a year before and I have no idea what was wrong last season," Klopp told ESPN. "Nobody was happy with the season. That was obvious, but they still qualified for the Champions League and that's a great success. Now you can go again with a new manager in Andoni Iraola, who is a great coach as well, just like Arne Slot is, but it has to click. It has to work together for a long time, and for that, you need luck. Last season is now over and they can look to the future."

Klopp also urged supporters to show patience during the inevitable adjustment period that accompanies any significant change in the dugout, acknowledging that teething problems are to be expected.

Iraola's remarkable rise at Bournemouth

The Spaniard arrives at Anfield with an outstanding track record at AFC Bournemouth, where he transformed the club from relegation battlers into a genuine top-half force across three Premier League seasons.

Bournemouth finished 12th in 2023/24 before climbing to 9th in 2024/25. The 2025/26 campaign proved to be the high point of Iraola's tenure, with the Cherries securing a historic 6th-place finish and UEFA Europa League qualification — their best-ever Premier League standing.

That final season was defined by an extraordinary 18-match unbeaten run, a sequence that underlined Iraola's capacity to build momentum and sustain a high-performing squad over an extended period.

It is that proven ability to develop a cohesive, improving team that has drawn Liverpool to the 42-year-old coach. Whether the same formula can be replicated at one of Europe's most demanding clubs remains the open question — and, as Klopp himself acknowledges, the answer may hinge as much on luck as on tactics.