A Liverpool star may be given a second chance at Liverpool under new manager Andoni Iraola

Andoni Iraola’s appointment could hand Kostas Tsimikas a fresh start at Liverpool. Iraola was confirmed as the Reds’ new head coach earlier this month, stepping in to replace the sacked Arne Slot following a dismal campaign.

Iraola’s appointment will give a number of Liverpool players the chance to push their way back into the club’s first-team plans. The 43-year-old earned widespread praise throughout his three-year tenure at Bournemouth for nurturing talent, having helped the likes of Dean Huijsen, Antoine Semenyo and Eli Junior Kroupi to thrive.

While Iraola has plenty of established stars already at his disposal, the new manager’s arrival could also unlock the potential of some of the Reds’ forgotten talents. The Basque coach has already given such players renewed hope of a fresh start, potentially handing them a route back into contention.

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“For me, and I will tell them, [they] are all new signings,” he 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.”

Those words will be a welcome boost to Tsimikas, having spent last season on loan at Roma. The 30-year-old made 25 appearances, of which only 11 were starts, and he only completed 90 minutes just twice in Italy.

The majority of his playing time also arrived in a wing-back position – a role that doesn’t reflect the duties demanded at Anfield. Nevertheless, the Greek international remains a dependable back-up option, a role he fulfilled capably for Liverpool across five seasons before his loan spell.

While Iraola is set to make former Bournemouth player Kerkez his first-choice full-back, the Hungary international needs competition for his spot. There’s a left-back spot up for grabs in the squad following Andy Robertson’s departure 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 remaining on his Liverpool contract and could still prove a valuable squad member 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.

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 these concerns, assurances over his suitability for the dressing room and connection with the club may make the return a logical one. Throughout his time with the Reds, Tsimikas even developed a strong friendship with one of the bigger dressing room egos in Mohamed Salah.

The defender admitted in 2021 that he had no qualms about not being a regular in the starting line-up, insisting that Liverpool felt like 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.”

It was perhaps this attitude that endeared Tsimikas to Salah, with the duo seen as best friends and frequently spotted together at the training ground prior to this season.

Tsimikas opened up about 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.”

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