Andoni Iraola will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season and has been linked with Newcastle United
Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth and Eddie Howe of Newcastle United after United's FA Cup win in January
Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth and Eddie Howe of Newcastle United after United's FA Cup win in January(Image: 2026 Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth)
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It would have been very interesting to have been a fly on the wall of Eddie Howe's office at Newcastle United's Benton training base when news of Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth departure dropped on Tuesday afternoon.
With pressure intensifying on Howe over his future at the club, the last thing he needed was the bookies' favourite to replace him becoming a free agent at the end of the season.
The Spaniard will leave the Vitality Stadium at the end of the campaign after three successful years on the South Coast, having matched Howe's achievement of finishing a record high ninth place in the Premier League last term.
"It has been an honour to manage AFC Bournemouth and I am proud of what we have achieved together," Iraola said in a statement.
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"I’m thankful to the players and staff that I’ve worked with, as well as Bill [Foley, Bournemouth chairman], who have all made my time here so special.
"As for the fans, you have continued to show your fantastic support to myself and the team, and for that I will always be grateful. I feel this is the right moment for me to step away, but I will always carry fantastic memories of this club."
It means Iraola is free to explore his next move this summer and having already been linked with jobs at Man United, Athletic Bilbao, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, the former Rayo Vallecano manager is set to be a man in demand.
Ironically, the first game he will take charge of his Cherries side since the announcement will be Saturday's trip to St James' Park to take on Newcastle United.
Howe already knew there would be a volley of questions surrounding his future in Friday's pre-match press conference. Those will increase tenfold now, both towards the Newcastle manager and his opposite number in Bournemouth.
While it would be disrespectful to suggest Iraola's visit to Tyneside will be an audition for the job, particularly while Howe, and all he has achieved in the role, remains in situ, it will certainly take on that sort of feel when the two sides take to the pitch on Saturday.
As things stand, Howe retains the backing of those inside the club, despite Sunday's defeat to Crystal Palace leaving the Magpies in 14th place and their hopes of qualifying for European football next season in tatters.
The job Howe has done at Newcastle has been transformational, taking a side from relegation fodder to the Champions League twice, as well as winning last season's Carabao Cup.
But David Hopkinson's comments about his future left more than a little room for interpretation last month and with six games remaining to end the season as strongly as possible, Newcastle's decision makers will reconvene at the end of the season to undertake a review of the campaign.
Whether Iraola's availability changes any of that remains to be seen.
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