Andoni Iraola, one of the most highly regarded and sought-after coaches in England’s Premier League, is to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season.
Bournemouth will join Crystal Palace in searching for a new manager, with Oliver Glasner announcing he will leave at season’s end earlier this campaign.
Those two vacacnies are clear, but it will be a European summer of uncertainty. The record change for incumbent Premier League clubs is seven in 2016 – and this off-season, across a World Cup, could challenge that.
Pep Guardiola has not confirmed if he will play on for another season at Manchester City, there is disquiet over Arne Slot’s second season at Liverpool, while Manchester United’s Michael Carrick is still not confirmed as the club’s next permanent manager.
Liam Rosenior and Eddie Howe also won’t be sleeping easily, knowing trigger happy and expectant owners at Chelsea and Newcastle won’t be happy with their league finishes this season.
The undercurrent to all of this is the availability of Sean Dyche, Thomas Frank, Enzo Maresca and Xabi Alonso. Dare we mention Ange Postecoglou, as well.
This season, Frank and Keith Andrews were the only two fresh faces in the Premier League dugouts.
Iraola, the 43-year-old Spaniard, took over at the Vitality Stadium in June 2023 following the departure of Gary O’Neil and guided the Cherries to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, setting a new club-record points tally.
With Iraola’s contract set to expire in the summer, the club had been looking to agree terms on a new deal, but have now reluctantly accepted his departure.
“AFC Bournemouth can confirm that head coach, Andoni Iraola, will leave the club at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, bringing an end to his successful three-year tenure on the south coast,” a statement read.
Iraola has been linked with a return to former team Athletic Bilbao as well as the Manchester United job.
The news of Iraola’s departure comes just a few days after a memorable 2-1 win at Premier League leaders Arsenal.
“It has been an honour to manage Bournemouth and I am proud of what we have achieved together,” Iraola said on the club website.
“I’m thankful to the players and staff that I’ve worked with, as well as (chairman) Bill (Foley), who have all made my time here so special.
Foley said Iraola had helped shape a “clear philosophy” within the club, which returned to the Premier League under Scott Parker in 2022, having been relegated the previous campaign after five seasons in the top flight.
* _Additional reporting from the Press Association_
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