By Victor Kanayo
Hours after the departure of Gary O’Neil as head coach, Bournemouth have announced Andoni Iraola as his replacement.
This was contained in a statement made public via the club website on Monday June 19, 2023.
The statement reads, “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Andoni Iraola as the club’s new head coach on a two-year deal.
“Andoni arrives at Vitality Stadium following the expiry of his contract at Rayo Vallecano, where a successful three-year spell ended with an 11th-placed finish in La Liga last season.
“He earned promotion to the top flight in his first season with the Madrid club in 2020/21, before taking the team to the Copa del Rey semi-finals in the following campaign.
“He had previously taken Segunda División side Mirandés to the same stage of the domestic cup in 2019/20, for only the second time in the club’s history. He started his managerial career in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca where he led his side in the group stage of the Europa League.
“The former right-back enjoyed an impressive and long playing career himself, which included more than 500 appearances for Athletic Bilbao and seven caps for Spain. He also played for New York City FC in their first two seasons in Major League Soccer.
“Andoni joins an ambitious AFC Bournemouth side that finished 15th in the Premier League in its first season back in the top flight.”
Andoni starts work with the playing squad and backroom staff at the beginning of pre-season in July.
He will have an early look at his new team before heading to a warm-weather training camp in Marbella, with the Cherries facing Hibernian and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the first two pre-season friendly matches on the 13th and 16th July respectively.
Andoni’s first taste of a Vitality Stadium match day will come at the end of July, with the club hosting Atalanta and FC Lorient before the visit of West Ham United to start the Premier League campaign a week later.
