Dan Burn of Newcastle United arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Bournemouth at St James' Park on April 18, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Dan Burn of Newcastle United arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Bournemouth at St James' Park on April 18, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pressure continues to mount on Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe after losing to AFC Bournemouth.
Newcastle United defender Dan Burn has admitted to being a “big fan” of AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.
The Spaniard heaped more pressure on Magpies head coach Eddie Howe after guiding the Cherries to a 2-1 victory at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Marcus Tavernier put the visitors ahead in the first-half before Adrien Truffert restored their lead in the 85th minute after Will Osula momentarily equalised.
Newcastle are currently on a three-game Premier League losing streak and have lost eight of their last 11 matches. It’s also five defeats from six on home turf, with Howe’s side sitting in 14th in the Premier League table.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, are level on points with seventh-placed Brentford as they look to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history in what is Iraola’s last season in charge.
The 43-year-old announced earlier this week that he will leave at the end of his contract this summer and ironically has been touted as a potential replacement for Howe.
Newcastle United star a ‘big fan’ of Andoni Iraola
Say Newcastle were to replace Howe with Iraola, then the latter already appears to have the seal of approval from one Newcastle star, who spoke glowingly about him in his programme notes.
It is, however, important to make clear that Burn remains fully behind Howe.
Burn said: “We welcome Bournemouth today, who are in very good form, especially when you look at some of the players they’ve lost in recent years.
“I’m a big fan of Andoni Iraola, he’s done some amazing things there. They ask a lot of questions of you, they’re a very high pressing team, similar to us, but they also go a lot more direct than most teams.
“It’s a different test, so we’ve got to be ready and prepared going into it.”
Andoni Iraola’s next club is still unclear
Iraola is expected to walk into another job this summer, with Athletic Bilbao and Crystal Palace just two of the clubs he’s been linked with since announcing his Bournemouth exit.
Asked about his next step, Iraola said: “It's good that you asked me. The decision was not about any other club. There has been no other club involved, and it was about continuing here or not continuing here. I don't know what I'm going to do next season.
“I don't know if I'm going to coach a team, a club, I'm going to coach a national team, I'm going to coach in this continent, I'm not going to coach. I have no idea what's going to happen. I don't pretend you believe me because a lot of people will not believe me, but it is what it is - I will say the truth.
“And also, actually, I don't have any rush to know it. I've done, I've taken like a big decision for me. Now in this moment. And now I want to focus on what we have in these 6 games. I think they are massive for us, and, and there is going to be time to think if we have to think on something else.”
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