Andoni Iraola to leave Bournemouth at end of the season | OneFootball

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola will leave the club at the end of the season after deciding against extending his contract, Sky Sports has reported.

The 43-year-old, who has been in charge since June 2023, informed players of his decision on Tuesday afternoon, bringing an end to a spell in which he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most highly rated young coaches.

Iraola, whose deal expires in three months, had been offered new terms by Bournemouth but opted to step away, with interest growing from elsewhere including his former club Athletic Club. In a statement, Iraola said: “This is the right moment for me to step away.”

Bournemouth are currently 11th in the Premier League and still have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history. They sit two points off seventh place, which could be enough to secure a spot in next season’s Europa Conference League.

Iraola’s departure comes despite a period of progress on the south coast, with the Spaniard praised for implementing an energetic, attacking style. Bournemouth finished ninth last season with a club-record 56 points and have remained competitive this term despite significant player sales.

The Cherries have already begun the process of identifying a successor, with former RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund boss Marco Rose understood to be among the leading candidates.

Iraola’s final home match will be against Manchester City on 17 May, before Bournemouth end the campaign away at Nottingham Forest.

GFN | Finn Entwistle