Bournemouth have introduced Andoni Iraola as their new head coach, changing Gary O’Neil who was sacked earlier on Monday.
Spaniard Iraola, 40, has signed a two-year deal with the Cherries following the expiry of his contract at La Liga facet Rayo Vallecano.
O’Neil was sacked seven months after he was made the membership’s everlasting boss and helped them to Premier League security.
“We’re so excited to welcome Andoni to the membership,” stated chairman Bill Foley.
Iraola spent three years at Rayo Vallecano, guiding them to eleventh within the Spanish high flight final season.
In his first season in cost, he earned promotion with the Madrid membership from Segunda Division, earlier than guiding them to the Copa Del Rey semi-finals within the 2021-22 marketing campaign.
Foley added: “With his contract in Spain coming to an finish this summer time we needed to behave shortly.
“He was extremely wanted by different golf equipment throughout the continent, and his fashion of play has been an essential consider making this determination. His achievements in Spain have actually been very spectacular and we’re assured that he’s the appropriate man to steer our subsequent chapter.”
Iraola began his managerial profession in 2018 in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca, earlier than returning to Spain the next yr to supervisor Mirandes for one season.
As a participant, former right-back Iraola made greater than 500 appearances for Athletic Bilbao and received seven worldwide caps for Spain. He additionally performed for New York City in in Major League Soccer.
Iraola will be part of up with the Bournemouth squad initially of pre-season in July.
Foley, additionally Bournemouth’s proprietor, added: “We have recognized quite a few targets within the switch market, which together with our January additions will complement our robust taking part in squad to provide Andoni one of the best likelihood to consolidate our Premier League standing and maintain progressing.”
An progressive thinker who grew up with Arteta
Iraola has a historical past of overachieving in every single place he has been, starting together with his taking part in profession.
He spent 15 years with Athletic Bilbao, the membership who famously solely decide gamers with ties to the Basque Country. In his 4 seasons as captain, the membership reached two Copa del Rey finals, a Europa League ultimate and certified for the Champions League.
As supervisor of Rayo he impressed them to promotion by way of the play-offs and established them in La Liga – even pushing for European soccer earlier final season.
Iraola’s Rayo had a repute of being one of the vital efficient urgent groups in Spain, taking part in with a excessive block and forcing groups into errors in harmful areas.
This formidable, but versatile, fashion of play has seen Rayo pull off some exceptional leads to the most important matches. They beat La Liga champions Real Madrid final season as nicely as Sevilla and Villarreal, whereas avoiding defeat to Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. In the earlier season they did the double over Barcelona for the primary time of their historical past.
Before becoming a member of Bilbao’s youth academy, Iraola acquired his soccer schooling on the famend Basque membership Antiguoko alongside Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta and future Athletic team-mate Aritz Aduriz.
Although he spent the majority of his profession with Bilbao, he set to work below high coaches such as Marcelo Bielsa, who led the staff to 2 finals in 2012, and future Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.
Read extra: Andoni Iraola: Who is Bournemouth’s new manager?
