Where The Story Turns
The 43-year-old Spaniard has signed a deal of undisclosed length, leaving Bournemouth after a three-year spell that saw the south-coast club finish sixth in the Premier League and reach Europe for the first time in their history.
Iraola's team went unbeaten in their last 18 games. That is the kind of late-season form that makes a hiring committee pay attention.
The Stakes In Plain Sight
"I am joining a special club," Iraola said. "The atmosphere, the supporters, the players, the chance to fight for titles—it cannot be more attractive than this."
He has never won a major trophy. The new role will test whether a strong domestic record translates against the demands of European competition.
The Question Left Open
Iraola takes over a team in transition. The summer departures of Salah and Andy Robertson mean only Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker remain from the side that won the Champions League in 2019 under Klopp.
He is the latest Spaniard from Spain's Basque region to take charge of a top English club, following Arteta at Arsenal, Emery at Aston Villa and most recently Xabi Alonso at Chelsea. The Basque pipeline to the Premier League shows no signs of drying up.