Iraola spoke to the media this morning for the first time since the announcement that he would depart at the end of the campaign.
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Asked to explain why he made that call, Iraola said: “It has been a decision that has taken me a lot of time to take.
“It has not been a clear decision. Always during this process, this season, I've been talking to the club about the situations.
“They were very aware that this could happen and there is not always one main reason.
Andoni Iraola. (Image: Richard Crease)
“I think the decision I've taken is because probably I don't want to risk the feeling I have right now of satisfaction of these three seasons.
“And you try to envision yourself in a possible fourth season, in a possible fifth season. Everything costs more.
“We as human beings, we get tired of watching always the same faces. And I suppose I've decided that this was the right moment, to put an end to this journey that for me has been really, really special.”
Iraola believes he leaves the club “in a great place”.
Andoni Iraola. (Image: Richard Crease)
“I have things in this club that I will not find anywhere else,” he said.
“I come every day to work here with a smile and this is very valuable for me.
“But as managers, you learn because you have experience as a player, you've had a lot of managers, you have to choose very well when to start, where to start, when to end things.
“And it's not a decision that I had super clear. Like, I am not going to convince you because it has taken me during this season.
“Sometimes I've been thinking, oh, I definitely am continuing here. Other times I'm not continuing here. It's a matter of feeling.
Andoni Iraola (Image: Richard Crease)
“There is a moment where you have to take decision. And this is the decision I've taken.
“I think I've supposed I prefer to make the mistake of maybe I could have stayed one year more, but I don't want to make the mistake of it was one year too much and there is a small margin that you are playing with, and this is what it is.”
Iraola has often said he does not plan to have a long managerial career.
Asked if that was still the case, he said: “It has always been part of the plan.
“There is more things in life than football, and sometimes you are the priority, and the family sacrifices a lot of things for you or for your dreams.
“I think there will arrive a moment in my life that I will be the one that has to sacrifice things to give the moment to especially to my kids. And but still we are not there, I think.”