Manchester United could receive a major boost if they choose to make Andoni Iraola the club’s new permanent manager. Amid much speculation about his next move, the Cherries manager has confirmed he will leave the club when his contract expires this summer. Reports have suggested that Iraola could return to Athletic Bilbao, the club where he spent most of his playing career, following manager Ernesto Valverde’s departure this summer.
However, Marca reports that Iraola has decided to continue his managerial career in the Premier League. The newspaper also reports that Bilbao are considering appointing former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic as their new head coach following Iraola’s decision. The German coach led the Bundesliga team to the 2024 Champions League final and has always been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Michael Carrick has been in charge of United since the departure of Ruben Amorim earlier this year, with the Reds firmly targeting a return to the Champions League, currently sitting third, level on points with Aston Villa in fourth. The interim manager has performed admirably, but United still need to make a verdict on his permanent appointment.
Iraola is one of the leading candidates to take over at Old Trafford, and Newcastle United are said to be keen to secure the outgoing Cherries manager. Speaking about his reasons for leaving Bournemouth, Iraola said: “This was a decision that took a long time for me. It was not a clear-cut decision. This season, throughout this process, I have always discussed the situation with the club.”
“They’re very aware that something like this can happen and there’s not always one main reason. I think the decision I made was probably because I didn’t want to jeopardize the sense of pride and satisfaction that I’ve had for the last three seasons.”
“And I try to picture myself in a possible fourth season, a possible fifth season. Everything costs money. As humans, we get tired of seeing the same faces all the time. And I think I decided now was the right moment to end this journey that was really, really special to me.”
“The club is in a great location. This club has something you won’t find anywhere else. I come to work every day with a smile on my face, which is invaluable to me.”
“But as a manager you learn, having been a player and having been a manager a lot, you have to be good at choosing when and where to start and when to finish things.
“And it’s not something I decided explicitly. Sometimes I’ve thought, ‘Oh, I’ll definitely continue here.’ Other times, I’ve thought, ‘I’m not going to continue here.’ It’s a matter of feeling.”
“There are moments when you have to make a decision, and this is the decision I made. I don’t want to make the mistake of saying, ‘Maybe I could have stayed another year,’ but I don’t want to make the mistake of saying, ‘One year was too long.’ You’re playing with a small margin, and this is what it is.”
