Andoni Iraola, the former manager of Rayo Vallecano, is expected to leave his position at Bournemouth this summer. The Basque coach has been a prominent figure in his three years with the club and has emerged as a leading candidate to fill the vacant managerial role at his former team, Athletic Club. This comes as a result of Ernesto Valverde’s announcement of his departure at the conclusion of the current season.
Iraola has previously acknowledged Valverde as a significant influence on his coaching career, and initial speculation heavily favored his return to San Mamés. However, recent reports suggest a cooling of these discussions, with Athletic Club President Jon Uriarte reportedly leaning towards appointing former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic, who is currently considered the frontrunner for the position.
The Athletic has reported that Iraola has made the decision to leave Bournemouth upon the expiration of his contract. Bournemouth has since confirmed this development. Iraola’s contractual approach typically involves one-year rolling agreements, and he has opted to explore new career opportunities despite the club’s efforts to persuade him to stay. Following Iraola’s tenure, which saw Bournemouth achieve a 12th and a 9th-place finish, they have been linked with Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna as a potential replacement. Currently, Bournemouth sits 11th in the league, with a three-point deficit to a European qualification spot and a comfortable 15-point buffer above the relegation zone.
Iraola has previously been a target for clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. There were also past links to a potential managerial role at Real Madrid this summer, although those discussions appear to have subsided. This week, Iraola confirmed that he has been in communication with Athletic Club following Valverde’s announcement.
Furthermore, reports from Indykaila suggest that Newcastle United has also made an approach for Iraola, potentially as a successor to Eddie Howe. It appears the 43-year-old manager will have a range of attractive options to choose from, following his successful spells at Mirandes, Rayo Vallecano, and Bournemouth.
