Troy Deeney believes Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola would be a solution to Chelsea’s structural woes, though there is a slight caveat.
Andoni Iraola’s three-year tenure at Bournemouth is concluding on a high, having firmly established the Cherries in the Premier League and there’s even a chance of Europe.
Since he arrived in 2023, the Spanish coach has transformed the club’s identity, notably delivering a record-breaking 56-point haul and a joint-highest 9th-place finish in the 2024/25 campaign.
Even after the high-profile departures of Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen last summer, Iraola’s 4-2-3-1 system remained resilient.
He has guided Bournemouth to 11th in the table, punctuated by a recent standout 2-1 victory over league leaders Arsenal. Known for an aggressive, high-pressing style that ranks among the league’s best for forced turnovers, Iraola has balanced defensive structure with a potent attack.
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Frank Lampard, Current Manager of Coventry City
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Chelsea told to hire Andoni Iraola instead of Liam Rosenior
Speaking on the Football Exchange, Troy Deeney reckons that Andoni Iraola could be a good move for Chelsea to make at some point in the near future.
“I think he’d be great for Chelsea, but I don’t think he’s going to go there. My mind seems to think Athletic Club or somewhere in Spain where he would go, but he would be fantastic for this Chelsea team.
“They wouldn’t want to do it, because he’s organised and structured, very much defensive-minded, I would say.”
Chelsea are happy with Liam Rosenior right now and would even keep him at the club if Champions League football isn’t secured, but things can change quickly.
With his departure confirmed for this summer, Iraola leaves the Vitality Stadium as one of the most respected overachievers in English football.
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What managers are out there?
If the Chelsea hierarchy were to move on from Liam Rosenior, the market currently offers several high-profile options. Xabi Alonso remains a candidate following his January departure from Real Madrid.
As Deeney mentioned, Andoni Iraola has officially announced his exit from Bournemouth and is being heavily courted by Crystal Palace and Manchester United.
Other elite free agents include Xavi and Edin Terzic, while Cesc Fabregas is frequently mentioned as a romantic return for the Blues due to his impressive work at Como.
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