June 19, (THEWILL) – Andoni Iraola has been named the new manager of Bournemouth Football Club after the sacking of Gary O’Neil.
The 40-year-old Spaniard, who was previously a sought-after candidate for Leeds, recently concluded a successful three-year stint as the manager of La Liga team, Rayo Vallecano. The former Spain and Athletic Bilbao defender has signed a two-year contract with the Vitality Stadium, marking his imminent arrival in the Premier League.
Bournemouth confirmed the news shortly after releasing a statement regarding O’Neil’s unexpected dismissal. Cherries Chairman, Bill Foley, expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment.
He said: “We’re delighted to welcome Andoni to the club. Given the expiration of his contract in Spain this summer, we moved quickly to secure his services. He garnered significant interest from other clubs across Europe, and his style of play played a crucial role in our decision-making process.”
Iraola, who turns 41 on Thursday, began his managerial career with AEK Larnaca in 2018, followed by a season with Spanish second-division side Mirandes in 2019/2020. He subsequently guided Vallecano to promotion to La Liga in 2021 and achieved two mid-table finishes, as well as a semi-final run in the Copa del Rey in 2022, which attracted attention from Leeds earlier this year.
Together with his coaching staff, he will commence work with Bournemouth’s squad next month, with their first competitive match under his leadership scheduled against West Ham at home on Saturday, August 12.
Meanwhile, O’Neil’s departure earlier in the day, as reported by THEWILL, has been described as a strategic move by Foley, aiming to provide the club with the optimal foundation for future growth, which Iraola’s appointment seems to confirm.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
