Andoni Iraola will leave Bournemouth at the end of the Premier League season
Andoni Iraola has confirmed he will step down as Bournemouth head coach at the end of the Premier League season following the expiration of his contract.
The manager informed the Cherries squad of his impending departure during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
He has rejected multiple offers to extend his three-year stay on the south coast, ending a highly successful tenure at the Vitality Stadium.
With six games remaining, the Spaniard could still lead the club to a historic first European qualification.
European ambitions and record-breaking run
The south-coast outfit currently sit 11th in the top flight, just two points adrift of the Europa Conference League places.
His final home match in charge will be against Manchester City on 17 May, before a final-day trip to Nottingham Forest.
The 41-year-old has been a transformative figure since replacing Gary O’Neil in the dugout in June 2023.
He guided the team to a ninth-place finish last term, securing a club-record 56 points in the process.
Rebuilding after major squad departures
This sustained overachievement is particularly notable given the significant player turnover overseen during the current campaign.
The club sanctioned the sales of key personnel including Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo for a combined £253m.
Despite these high-profile exits, the dynamic tactician has maintained his signature high-pressing, progressive style of play.
Bournemouth’s hierarchy feel they exhausted all avenues to retain their manager, having originally opened extension talks 15 months ago.
Athletic Club return on the horizon?
Attention now turns to the highly rated coach’s next destination, with strong interest expected from both domestic rivals and abroad.
A return to the Basque Country appears a strong possibility as Athletic Club search for a successor to the departing Ernesto Valverde.
The former right-back made over 500 appearances for the Bilbao outfit during a distinguished 12-year playing career.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth are already advancing their own recruitment process, with three preferred candidates reportedly identified on a managerial shortlist.
