Andoni Iraola's appointment as Liverpool head coach could hand Kostas Tsimikas a new start at Anfield. Iraola succeeded the sacked Arne Slot earlier this month after a disappointing season, and his arrival may allow several forgotten players to force their way back into first-team plans.
Iraola's Track Record of Player Development
The 43-year-old was widely praised during his three-year stint at Bournemouth for developing players, helping the likes of Dean Huijsen, Antoine Semenyo, and Eli Junior Kroupi flourish. While Iraola has ready-made superstars at his disposal, his appointment can also bring the best out of Liverpool's forgotten gems. The Basque has already given such players hope of a clean slate.
“For me, and I will tell them, [they] are all new signings,” Iraola said after taking charge. “For me, you are all new signings and I think we have a lot of quality in our squad, and [I'm] really looking forward to working with them.”
Tsimikas's Loan Spell at Roma
Those words will be music to Tsimikas's ears, having spent last season on loan with Roma. The 30-year-old made 25 appearances, of which only 11 were starts, and he completed 90 minutes just twice. Most of his minutes came in a wing-back role, which doesn't reflect the responsibilities required at Anfield. However, the Greek international still presents a solid back-up option, a role he played effectively for Liverpool for five seasons prior to his loan stint.
Left-Back Competition After Robertson's Exit
While Iraola is likely to make former Bournemouth man Kerkez his first-choice left-back, the Hungary international needs competition. There is a left-back spot up for grabs following Andy Robertson's exit this summer, and the club is expected to use funds to address other areas of greater priority in the transfer window. Tsimikas has another year left on his Liverpool contract and could therefore still be an important squad player under Iraola, just as he was under Jurgen Klopp. The defender played more than 1,700 minutes for the Reds in their title-winning campaign under Slot.
Fan Favourite and Dressing Room Ally
His FA Cup-winning penalty and enthusiastic embrace of the city's culture made him a likeable figure among Liverpool fans. But his overall quality was questioned due to his failure to dislodge an at times struggling Robertson permanently, which may not bode well for providing a competitive alternative to Kerkez. Despite those reservations, assurances of his fit for the dressing room and history with the club may make the return a sensible one.
During his time with the Reds, Tsimikas struck up a close friendship with one of the bigger dressing room egos in Mohamed Salah. The defender in 2021 admitted he didn't mind not being a regular starter, as Liverpool are a family. He said: “My dream came true when I came to Liverpool. We are like a family. Whoever is playing, whoever is on the bench, we want the best for the team.”
Perhaps it was this attitude that made Salah take a shine to Tsimikas, with the pair being described as best friends and being regularly seen together in training. Tsimikas lifted the lid on his relationship with the now departed Egyptian, saying: “He is one of my best mates here. He was there for me to help me. He's a very big person, fantastic. One of the best people I have ever met in my life. We spend a lot of time at the training ground together.”
