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Comparison

Compare managers

Select two manager dossiers for professional tactical analysis, read against the same scale.

Prototype rating

Select manager A

🇪🇸

Andoni Iraola

Liverpool

Spain flag Spain · 44

GafferScore 84

High PressMan-MarkingFast Transition

High Press / Man-Marking

vs

Select manager B

🇪🇸

Unai Emery

Aston Villa

Spain flag Spain · 54

GafferScore 88

Tactical FlexibilityHigh Defensive LineCounter Attack

Tactical Flexibility / High Defensive Line

Tactical comparison

Comparison summary

Andoni Iraola sets up as man-marking • relentless press • fast transition from a 4-2-3-1, pressing at very high intensity behind a very high defensive line. Unai Emery is detail-led • offside trap • game management from a 4-4-2, with high press intensity and a very high line.

Key similarities

  • Width — both around 78
  • Line Height — both around 92
  • Defensive Transition — both around 88
  • Final Third Structure — both around 84

Key differences

  • Tempo — Andoni Iraola higher by 30
  • Attacking Transition — Andoni Iraola higher by 13
  • Pressing Intensity — Andoni Iraola higher by 12
  • Counter-Press — Andoni Iraola higher by 12

Tactical similarity54%

🇪🇸

GafferScore

84/100

Andoni Iraola

Liverpool

Premier League

🇪🇸

GafferScore

88/100

Unai Emery

Aston Villa

Premier League

Comparative shape

Assessment profile

AttackDefencePressingPossessionBuild-UpTransitionPlayerTactical
Andoni IraolaUnai Emery
0–100 index

Overall

84

GafferScore

88

Advantage Unai Emery

85

Current Form

80

Advantage Andoni Iraola

0–100 index

Tactical identity

74

Possession

82

Advantage Unai Emery

92

Tempo

62

Advantage Andoni Iraola

78

Width

78

Similar

100

Verticality

94

Advantage Andoni Iraola

0–100 index

Build-up

78

Short Build-Up

83

Advantage Unai Emery

70

Goalkeeper Involvement

74

Advantage Unai Emery

79

Central Progression

83

Advantage Unai Emery

76

Press Resistance

82

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Attack

88

Chance Creation

84

Advantage Andoni Iraola

84

Final Third Structure

83

Similar

82

Width

80

Similar

72

Central Overloads

71

Similar

0–100 index

Pressing

92

Pressing Intensity

80

Advantage Andoni Iraola

95

Counter-Press

83

Advantage Andoni Iraola

94

High Press

82

Advantage Andoni Iraola

91

Pressing Triggers

88

Similar

0–100 index

Defence

82

Defensive Organisation

88

Advantage Unai Emery

92

Line Height

92

Similar

60

Compactness

64

Advantage Unai Emery

86

Rest Defence

89

Similar

0–100 index

Transitions

93

Attacking Transition

80

Advantage Andoni Iraola

88

Defensive Transition

88

Similar

0–100 index

Development

87

Youth Development

82

Advantage Andoni Iraola

86

Player Improvement

84

Similar

0–100 index

Flexibility

83

Formation Flexibility

94

Advantage Unai Emery

85

In-Game Adaptability

93

Advantage Unai Emery

GafferLens index

Category assessment

88Attack84
82Defence88
96Pressing84
74Possession82
79Build-Up83
93Transition88
87Player Development82
83Tactical Flexibility94
Verified canonical record

Current Club — League

1Matches140
0%Win %52.1%
Career-wide profile data

Career profile record

1.64Points / game1.83
1.72Goals / game1.86
1.28Conceded / game1.11
29%Clean sheet %38%
4-2-3-1Current base shape4-4-2
44Age54
4 JUN 2026Appointed1 NOV 2022
4 monthsTenure3 years, 11 months
Until Jun 2030ContractUntil Jun 2029
8 years, 3 monthsYrs in senior management21 years
LiverpoolClubAston Villa
Premier LeagueLeaguePremier League
Projected

Head-to-head tactical matchup

Provisional

  • Press vs build-up

    Advantage: Andoni Iraola

    Andoni Iraola's press (96) against Unai Emery's build-up (83) decides whether the first phase survives.

  • Build-up vs press

    Advantage: Unai Emery

    Unai Emery presses at 84; Andoni Iraola builds at 79.

  • Attack vs defence

    Similar

    Andoni Iraola's attacking model (88) against Unai Emery's defensive organisation (88).

  • Transition duel

    Advantage: Andoni Iraola

    Both sides live in the seconds after a turnover — 93 vs 88.

  • In-game flexibility

    Advantage: Unai Emery

    Who changes the game from the touchline: 83 vs 94.

Matchup lines are modelled from tactical descriptors, not from recorded fixtures between these managers.

GafferLens Pro

Advanced manager intelligence

Coming later

Advanced Tactical Style

Possession + High PressFast / Vertical + Counter AttackBuild combinations

Build-Up Style

Short Build-UpStructured Build-UpDirect ProgressionGoalkeeper InvolvementBack Three Build-Up

Pressing Profile

High PressCounter-PressMid-BlockLow BlockMan-Oriented Press

Attacking Profile

Positional AttackHigh-Tempo AttackWide OverloadsCentral OverloadsHalf-Space FocusDirect Attacking

Defensive Profile

High Defensive LineCompact BlockAggressive DefenceDeep DefenceDefensive Organisation

Player Development

Youth DevelopmentAcademy IntegrationPlayer ImprovementYoung Squad Experience

Advanced Experience

Champions League ExperienceEuropean ExperienceInternational ManagementTitle-Winning ExperienceRebuild Experience

Rating Filters

GafferScore ≥ 85Pressing ≥ 80Build-Up ≥ 80Player Development ≥ 75

Multi-Filter Search

Possession + High Press + Under 45 + Elite Experience

Manager Match

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Advanced Similarity

Build-UpAttackPressingDefenceTransitionsFlexibilityPlayer Development

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Season: 2026/27