Andoni Iraola to leave Bournemouth this summer 2026 after three years

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola will leave the club when his contract expires in summer 2026 after three seasons in charge.

Players rally behind departing boss Bournemouth players dismissed any notion of distraction following Andoni Iraola's announcement that he will leave the club once his contract expires this summer. The Cherries had just secured a statement victory against Newcastle when the news broke. Winger Marcus Tavernier told the program Match of the Day, 'If anything, it has made us want us to run harder for him and finish the season off with something special.' He added, 'He has done a lot for this club and players, so it is only right we show him this reaction to finish off with something we can remember for a long time.' Iraola himself admitted concern about reactions but expressed trust in his players' commitment. He said, 'You are always worried because when you give this kind of news, you don't know how everyone is going to react. I trust my players a lot and I know they want to push until the end.' ## Newcastle loss intensifies managerial speculation The 2-1 win at St James' Park for Bournemouth may have served as Iraola's audition for the Newcastle manager's job. Eddie Howe's Newcastle sit just three points clear of 15th-placed Leeds with this defeat adding to recent setbacks. Newcastle could be among several clubs potentially targeting Iraola this summer. When asked about his future, Iraola told the program Radio Solent, 'I have no clue. I don't know if I'm going to coach next season. I have no rush to know it. The decision has not been affected by any other club.' ## Bournemouth's rise under Iraola's leadership Iraola arrived in June 2023 on a two-year deal to replace Gary O'Neil, who had guided the Cherries to 15th place. In his first season, he led them to 12th with a club-record 48 points, earning a contract extension until 2026. The following season saw Bournemouth finish ninth with a record 56 points and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. This campaign has seen them fight for a European spot despite losing key players Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo. Former England and Arsenal defender Martin Keown told Final Score, 'He has been absolutely magnificent.' Keown questioned how the club achieved such success after so many departures, noting Iraola's points per game and win percentage rank highest among all Bournemouth managers in the league. ## Club's failed attempts to retain manager Desperate to keep Iraola, Bournemouth's senior officials negotiated with him for 15 months without reaching an agreement. Iraola explained, 'The club tried to do everything. In December they had a formal offer. I tried to talk about my feelings.' He described his time at Bournemouth as satisfying but acknowledged the need to choose the right moment to leave. Keown added, 'It would be a shame to see him leave the Premier League. I want to keep him here, I like what he does.' ## Potential Premier League destinations for Iraola Oliver Glasner had already confirmed his departure from Crystal Palace, making them one of several clubs possibly interested in Iraola. Other Premier League sides that could pursue him include Manchester United, currently under interim manager Michael Carrick. Arne Slot faces pressure at Liverpool, while Chelsea's Liam Rosenior has struggled since taking charge. Manchester City may soon seek a new manager as Pep Guardiola's contract runs until 2027, though recent reports suggest they are targeting Enzo Maresca as his replacement. Rory Smith, football correspondent, commented, 'Where would Iraola fit in terms of City, United, Liverpool and Chelsea? I think he'll be a contender for all of them. I think he could probably fine-tune [teams]. I think the principles would remain the same, that high octane football, but I suspect he would be able to adjust it to the squad a little bit,' he told Monday Night Club. ## Newcastle's managerial carousel pressures Howe Eddie Howe has faced increasing scrutiny despite leading Newcastle to their first domestic trophy in 70 years. Saturday's defeat marked another recent setback, and if the club decides a change is needed, Iraola's record since joining Bournemouth compares favorably to Howe's tenure. ## Spanish clubs emerge as possible Iraola targets Athletic Club in Spain has been heavily linked with Iraola, following Ernesto Valverde's announcement that he will leave the club this summer. Valverde's four-year spell in Bilbao is ending, creating an opening. Born in the Basque Country, Iraola made 510 appearances for Athletic between 2003 and 2015. He commented on Valverde's departure, saying, 'It affects me probably as a supporter because I support the club. I've been playing there for a lot of years and has been a surprise also for me. It's my biggest reference in football, Ernesto. It's a decision that he has made, but it's not affecting me apart from the supporter side, let's say.' Rory Smith added, 'It's the club where he learned a lot of his footballing principles. A lot of the elements of his game comes from [Marcelo] Bielsa's Athletic team. That job is available, if he wants to go back to Spain. There will be a massive, emotional pull for that job.' ## European opportunities for Iraola's future Interest in Iraola might not be limited to Athletic Club. Alvaro Arbeloa took over at Real Madrid in January, but the La Liga leaders trail Barcelona by nine points with seven games remaining and were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich. Iraola could also be tempted by Bayer Leverkusen in Germany before moving to a bigger club.