In his first interview from the AXA Training Centre, the Spaniard made clear that earning the trust of supporters will matter as much to him as winning trophies.
The 43-year-old joins from AFC Bournemouth, where he spent three seasons and transformed the south coast club from a mid-table Premier League side into a sixth-placed finisher and Europa League qualifier — the highest position and first European campaign in their history. He was appointed by sporting director Richard Hughes, who worked alongside him at Bournemouth for a year and led the recruitment process at Liverpool.
Iraola spoke with characteristic directness in his opening remarks to Liverpoolfc.com.
"Really excited, really excited. Because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it's a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world.
"But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it's a special club."
He addressed the weight of expectation that comes with the role.
"It matters a lot to everyone. Football at the end is about emotion. I understand it's also a privilege but also a big responsibility, because all those people want to be represented properly and we are here for this."
On the footballing appeal, he was equally clear.
"You don't need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool. The atmosphere, the supporters, the club, the players, the chance for me to coach top-level players, the chance to fight for titles — it cannot be more attractive than this."
On the style he intends to bring, Iraola outlined continuity with his own principles while acknowledging the adaptation required.
"I wouldn't like to lose our identity, the intensity, the aggressiveness, the organisation, certain things that I would like always to have in my team. You have to adapt to the players you have, but there are fundamentals that I also think match quite well with what Liverpool has been during a lot of years. I think we can make it work."
With many senior players away at the World Cup, Iraola sees the early pre-season period as an opportunity rather than a complication.
"The senior players that have played in the World Cup, they've been feeling the pressure, they've been playing for their countries — they need and deserve a rest. This allows us to give important minutes to the young players that probably we don't know as well. Those trainings, those minutes will be very valuable for us to take decisions."
He recalled facing Liverpool as Bournemouth manager and described the specific moment that crystallised what Anfield means.
"I still remember the goal Chiesa scored at the end of the first game of the season — we were there with 2-2 thinking that probably we could take something. He scored and the place erupted. It was crazy. I want now to feel this from the other side."
He was equally candid about the responsibility of the position and what he intends to do with it.
"I want to become one more of you. I want to earn the right to be one of you, so we can enjoy all together."
Iraola spent 12 seasons as a right-back at Athletic Club, making more than 500 appearances and earning seven senior caps for Spain. He also had a spell at New York City FC between 2015 and 2016. His managerial career began with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, where he won the Cypriot Super Cup, before moves to Mirandés and Rayo Vallecano — whom he promoted to La Liga in his first season — preceded his arrival in England.
He is set to sign a two-year deal and is expected to bring Bournemouth assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper with him to Anfield.