Iraola picks Ernesto Valverde over Marcelo Bielsa as his most influential coach | OneFootball

Iraola, now Liverpool head coach, has named Ernesto Valverde as the manager who most shaped his playing career, and says he rejected a 2013-14 approach from Liverpool to remain with Athletic.

"I learned a lot from Valverde. Everyone asks me about Bielsa. I also played some games for the national team under Del Bosque. Even at the end of my career I played under Vieira. But if I have to choose one, I always choose Ernesto Valverde," he said, speaking to The Athletic.

The coach from Usurbil is running his first pre-season camp in Chicago as he begins life at Anfield, with Liverpool aiming to rejoin the fight for major honours this season.

Reflecting on the 2013-14 winter window, Iraola added: "It was not even close because I never wanted to leave Athletic Club. It was the ideal place."

He said his later move to MLS was different. "I left before becoming a problem for the club." Iraola then joined New York City, where he retired after one season.

Source: El Correo