Bournemouth manager Iraola to leave at end of season

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola will leave the club at the end of this season, the Premier League side announced Tuesday.

The Spaniard joined the south coast club in 2023 and led them to their equal highest top-flight finish of ninth last season, earning their highest points tally of 56, and reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.

“It has been an honour to manage AFC Bournemouth and I am proud of what we have achieved together,” said Iraola in a club statement confirming his departure.

The 43-year-old Spaniard joined in 2023, replacing then head coach Gary O’Neil.

But his contract expires after the end of the current campaign and talks over a new deal were unsuccessful despite Bournemouth reportedly wanting to keep Iraola at the Vitality Stadium.

The Spaniard, one of the most highly-regarded coaches in Europe, may now leave the Cherries for free at the end of the campaign.

Iraola has been linked with a return to Spanish side Athletic Bilbao as well as Manchester United.

He spent 12 years at Bilbao as a player, making over 500 appearances for the club.

Tuesday’s announcement came just days after Iraola, who has six games left at Bournemouth this season, oversaw a superb 2-1 win away to Premier League leaders Arsenal last weekend.

Iraola’s final home game will be against Manchester City on Sunday, May 17, ahead of a trip to Nottingham Forest on the last day of the Premier League campaign.

He could bow out on a high by securing the first European qualification in Bournemouth’s history.

The Cherries are currently 11th, two points adrift of a seventh-placed finish, which would get them into next season’s Conference League.

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