It seems as though Andoni Iraola has turned down AC Milan, who must now look to other head coach candidates.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall that history has repeated itself. A Spanish coach close to taking over Milan and leading a new era almost happened with Julen Lopetegui in the final weeks of May 2024. Then, it all faded away.
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Now the scene repeats itself, with the same script: even before the summer, Milan are engaged in an internal reorganisation, whether it concerns the club (the divorce from Paolo Maldini in 2023), the team (summer 2024 and a year ago with the arrival of Massimiliano Allegri) or both, as in this case.
First the yes, then…
This time, the Spaniard who was close to taking the Rossoneri bench was Andoni Iraola, officially the former coach of Bournemouth, whom he led to Europa League qualification for the first time in their history.
Yesterday, he said goodbye to the Cherries: “I think I enjoyed it. In my role, it’s difficult to truly enjoy myself: there’s pressure, you have to get results. But I feel very fortunate to have experienced this moment for the club and to have led these players.”
Milan being in the Champions League would have been big draw. In the meeting in London with the former management (CEO Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada), he had expressed complete openness and full willingness to embrace the new direction.
Then, however, the team completely collapsed in the final game of the season against Cagliari. They had to settle for a Europa League spot before Furlani, Moncada and Igli Tare were sacked. Iraola showed his first doubts.
Milan still lack a defined technical plan to present to the candidates for the role: there is no CEO, and above all, there is no sporting and technical director to define the next guidelines. Meanwhile, other clubs have approached Iraola, one with more conviction than the others: Crystal Palace.
The choice would allow Iraola to remain in England. Financial and family reasons tie him to the Premier League: English clubs have a financial clout that not even Milan can match. His family would advise against turning his career upside down in a new league and at a club with big uncertainties.
Today could even bring the announcement of Iraola to Palace. Oliver Glasner – who yesterday coached his final match at the helm of the south London side, complete with a trophy raised to the sky – might become an option for AC Milan.
A rejection, once confirmed, will force Milan to pursue other options. One, also pursued some time ago, leads to United States coach Mauricio Pochettino, formerly of Chelsea, PSG and Tottenham Hotspur.
Pochettino is also focused on preparing for the World Cup: he already has a relationship with Christian Pulisic (Yunus Musah, returning to Milan, was instead excluded from his squad), whom Cardinale would like to keep on the team. Xavi is a third option.