Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola will retire at the end of the season.
The Bournemouth head coach’s contract expires in three months, but he has turned down a number of offers to extend his stay due to interest from former club Athletic Club and links with Premier League rivals.
Iraola, who has six games left for Bournemouth, departs after a record-breaking three years on the south coast. “Now is the right time for me to step down,” he said in a statement posted on the club’s website.
The Spaniard’s last home game will be against Manchester City on Sunday 17 May, ahead of his trip to Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season.
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Bournemouth feel they have done everything in their power to convince Iraola to stay and, although they are disappointed with his decision, there remains a mutual respect between the two sides.
Talks were first held more than 15 months ago, but Mr Iraola preferred to wait until later in the campaign for meaningful consultations.
The search for a new head coach has been going on behind the scenes for some time and Sky Sports News understands there are three strong candidates on Bournemouth’s shortlist.
Bournemouth, currently 11th in the league, remain in the running for their first European qualification in their history this season, potentially ending Iraola’s run of form.
They sit two points behind seventh place, which is good enough to play in the conference league next season.
Iraola has been a popular choice at Bournemouth since being appointed as Gary O’Neill’s replacement in June 2023, implementing an attacking, progressive and dynamic style of football.
Bournemouth finished ninth in the Premier League table last season with a club-record 56 points, breaking the Cherries’ best result in the top flight for the second successive season.
Iraora have had to deal with the £253m sale of Dean Huyssen, Milos Kerkes, Ilia Zabarny, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo this season.
Where will Iraora go next?
Iraola is set to move on this summer, but where will he go?
Iraola leaves Bournemouth as one of the Premier League’s hottest managerial candidates, but where will he go next?
Athletic Club are interested in bringing Iraola back to the Basque Country as they look for a new head coach with Ernesto Valverde set to leave the club at the end of the season.
Iraola spent 12 years at Bilbao, making over 500 appearances for the club. He was captain of Marcelo Bielsa’s team that knocked Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United out of the Europa League in the 2011/12 season.
Germany’s Sky understands that former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic is another candidate for Athletic Club, but any decision is expected to await the outcome of the club’s presidential election in May.
Crystal Palace had seen Iraola as the frontrunner to replace the departed Oliver Glasner, but it is believed he has moved on to another target. Before Iraola decided on his future at Bournemouth, it was thought he was unlikely to move to Selhurst Park.
Tottenham was also one of the clubs that had been linked with Iraola, but they have now appointed Roberto de Zerbi on a five-year contract.
Manchester United have yet to make a final decision on who their next head coach will be next season, with Michael Carrick holding the post until the summer. United are not in talks with any other candidates at this stage and are in no hurry to make a name.
Speculation over Eddie Howe’s future at Newcastle has made some bookmakers less likely to see Iraola win at St James’ Park next.
Howe last week said he was 100 per cent committed to Newcastle but it was “very difficult” to look beyond this season.
Iraora’s last six games for Bournemouth
Saturday 18 April: Newcastle (A) – Premier League
Wednesday 22 April: Leeds United (H) – Premier League, live on Sky Sports
Saturday 2nd May: Crystal Palace (H) – Premier League
Saturday 9th May: Fulham (A) – Premier League
Sunday 18th May: Man City (H) – Premier League
Sunday, May 24: Nottingham Forest (A) – Premier League
