Andoni Iraola is clearly ready to take his time before deciding on his next job, despite Manchester United and Chelsea keen on the outgoing Bournemouth manager
Andoni Iraola to leave Bournemouth this summer (Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola insists he is “in no rush” to make a decision on his next move, amid reports of interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Spaniard confirmed his departure from Bournemouth shortly after the win at Arsenal, bringing his three-year spell at the Cherries to an end. He will be heading off to Europe with a bang with the south coast club.
Iraola’s stock has continued to rise during his time in England, and he could be in line for a big-money offer following his stint at Bournemouth. Some of them could come from Premier League clubs, with Crystal Palace thought to be keen on his services.
Powerhouses United and Chelsea are also keen. The people of Manchester, who have watched Iraola’s Bournemouth crush them spectacularly over the past few seasons, are weighing their options as Michael Carrick continues to prove himself in the dugout.
Chelsea have sacked manager Liam Rosenior and become a new addition to the manager hunt. They intend to wait until the end of the season, but Iraola’s side may have concerns about the sports organization and its recent track record of hiring and firing managers.
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The outgoing Bournemouth manager could also be tempted by a move back to his home country. With coach Ernesto Valverde set to retire this summer, Athletic Bilbao may be tempted to hire Iraola, a Basque native who has played more than 400 games for the Spanish club.
Iraola’s departure didn’t stop the Cherries’ momentum, with Saturday’s win over Fulham cementing their place in sixth place, closing in on Aston Villa in fifth. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but once it’s done, there’s a sense of relief,” Iraola said.
Chelsea are looking for their next permanent manager (Image: Daniel Weir/Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock)
“I feel like we were able to use it in a positive way. Since that day we have had great results and the atmosphere is also great. Everyone is clear, the relationships are very clean and honest. OK, this is going to happen, next season Marco Rose will be our manager. We all know what is going on. We are in a good position so we can use this in a positive way.”
Iraola was a relative unknown when he arrived in the Premier League from Rayo Vallecano. Despite a slow start, his qualities quickly became apparent and he is on course to achieve Bournemouth’s best ever top-flight finish.
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