After a shaky start on the south coast, Iraola has led the club to back-to-back record-breaking seasons in the top flight, earning national and international plaudits.
[O’Neil guided the club to safety in the 2022/23 season, and his departure sent shockwaves through the club’s fanbase and the wider football world.](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23598485.gary-oneil-sacked-afc-bournemouth-head-coach/)
The decision was made with a view to appointing a manager who could meet owner Bill Foley’s ambitions on the pitch.
[And on the same day that O’Neil’s sacking was announced, Iraola was appointed.](https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23599164.andoni-iraola-hired-afc-bournemouth-boss-gary-oneil-sacked/)
It appeared initially to be a bold call that had perhaps misfired, with the new style of play taking time to bed in.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ Iraola’s first nine games in charge saw the club without a win and sat in the relegation zone, with the last two games of that run seeing the club well beaten at Everton and capitulating at home against Wolves.
But, after his first win came at Burnley and a defeat to Manchester City, the Cherries went on a seven-game unbeaten run, including six wins and a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
The side’s momentum continued through the season, and they were still in with a mathematical – albeit unlikely – chance to qualify for Europe with four games to go.
Despite three defeats in the final three games of the season, the Cherries finished the campaign in 12th, with a record points haul of 48.
Into last season, Iraola built on his first season’s success, and broke more records along the way.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ Those included the club’s longest unbeaten run in the Premier League, the most wins, the most points, the most goals scored and the fewest conceded.
Highlights included wins over Manchester City and another 3-0 win at Old Trafford, the double over Arsenal and neighbours Southampton, and a 4-1 away win at Newcastle backed up with a 5-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest.
At the end of that 11-game unbeaten run, which started at the end of November and ran into February until the Cherries were defeated by Liverpool, the Cherries sat seventh.
They then moved up to fifth with a win over Southampton – but a difficult run of form saw Iraola’s team drop down to ninth come the end of the season, with 56 points.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ Iraola also guided the Cherries to a record-equalling run to the FA Cup quarterfinals, with their ninth-placed finish in the league record-equalling too, after Eddie Howe took the side into the top ten in 2016/17.
The Basque boss drew admiration from across the football world for his work at the Cherries next season and is under contract for another campaign – although chairman Bill Foley will be keen to tie him down for longer.
Pre-season preparations continue and Iraola will no doubt be looking to break more records at AFC Bournemouth in 2025/26.