When Andoni Iraola arrived at Bournemouth in June 2023, he inherited a side sitting 15th in the Premier League. On Sunday, the 43-year-old Spaniard led them to a 2-1 victory at St James' Park over Newcastle, cementing what has become one of the most remarkable transformation stories in recent English football history. It was a fitting tribute from his players — Marcus Tavernier spoke for the squad when he said the news of Iraola's departure "made us want to run harder for him and finish the season off with something special."
Three seasons. Three leaps forward. Iraola guided Bournemouth from 15th to 12th in his debut campaign, hitting a then-club high 48 points. The following year, the Cherries soared to ninth place with a record 56 points and reached the FA Cup quarter-finals. This season, despite losing key players Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi, and Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth sit level on 48 points with Chelsea and Brentford — both clubs occupying European places — after an unbeaten run of 13 matches that has put them right in the hunt for continental football.
Former England defender Martin Keown captured the astonishment watching Iraola's achievement unfold: "Let's remember how many players left in the summer. These guys have come in. How are they doing it?" Iraola's points per game and win percentage now rank highest among all Bournemouth managers in the Premier League era.
The club tried desperately to keep him. Senior officials negotiated with the manager for 15 months, making a formal offer in December, but no agreement materialized. "The seasons I have been here I have been so satisfied, I don't want almost to risk it," Iraola explained. "But sometimes you have to choose well the moment to leave places."
Where he goes next remains uncertain. "I have no clue," Iraola told BBC Radio Solent. "I don't know if I'm going to coach next season. I have no rush to know it." But with Crystal Palace already targeting him, Manchester United and Liverpool potentially seeking new managers, and Manchester City mapping post-Pep Guardiola succession, the Spanish coach is unlikely to be out of work long. As Observer football correspondent Rory Smith observed: "I think he'll be a contender for all of them."
For now, though, the focus remains on finishing what Iraola started on the south coast. "I trust my players a lot and I know they want to push until the end," he said. Whatever comes next, the Iraola era at Bournemouth has rewritten what this club can dream of.