Andoni Iraola has announced that he will leave Bournemouth at the end of 2025-26 season.
Iraola arrived at the Vitality Stadium in June 2023 and oversaw a 12th-placed Premier League finish in his first season in charge, followed by a 9th-placed finish last season during which he also led them to the Quarter-Finals stage of the FA Cup where they lost to eventual runners-up, Manchester City.
Iraola’s Cherries currently are on a 12-match unbeaten top-flight run and lies 11th in the table with six matches left, albeit two points off seventh-placed Brentford who occupy the final European qualification spot.
The Spaniard’s contract however is up at the conclusion of this season and he has opted not to renew his contract following talks about a new deal, amidst rumours of a return to Spain to take the Athletic Bilbao managerial position.
Explaining his decision to leave on AFC Bournemouth’s website, Iraola revealed that he believes that this is the right time for him to leave as he thanked the club plus Chairman, Bill Foley for their work to give him and the squad the quality to achieve memories and success together.
“It has been an honour to manage AFC Bournemouth and I am proud of what we have achieved together. I’m thankful to the players and staff that I’ve worked with, as well as Bill, who have all made my time here so special.
“As for the fans, you have continued to show your fantastic support to myself and the team, and for that I will always be grateful. I feel this is the right moment for me to step away, but I will always carry fantastic memories of this club.”
Foley added: “Andoni has been instrumental in shaping the direction of this football club over the past three seasons. He brought intensity, innovation, and a clear philosophy that elevated AFC Bournemouth both on and off the pitch.
“We are incredibly thankful for his leadership and will always have great memories of our time working together, as well as the things we accomplished.”
Bournemouth’s Head of Football Operations, Tiago Pinto paid tribute to the 43-year old for his technicality and tactical knowledge, whilst extracting peak performance from the squad.
“Andoni is someone I have a lot of admiration for, both as a head coach and as a person. His attention to detail, tactical intelligence and ability to bring the best out of players is something we have seen every day.
“We’ve continued to watch the development of individuals under his coaching both here at AFC Bournemouth and now in some of Europe’s top leagues too. We of course respect his decision and thank him for everything he has done for this football club over the last three years.”
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