Andoni Iraola has informed Bournemouth that he will leave the club this summer.
The Spanish manager’s contract expires this summer and he had been in talks to renew. Bournemouth had made a concerted effort to keep the 43-year-old and at one stage grew confident of keeping their man.
However, he had promised to inform them of his next move following the international break and an inference of his decision became apparent last Thursday before confirmation arrived.
Athletic Bilbao are considering Iraola to succeed Ernesto Valverde and the pull of a return to Spain is understood to be a major factor for him and his family.
Crystal Palace have also made a concerted effort to attract him to their project with Oliver Glasner leaving Selhurst Park in June.
Iraola spent 12 years at Bilbao as a player, making over 400 appearances for the club. However, he has still to finalise his decision.
For their part, Bournemouth will explore finding another bright thinking coach with Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna among the early contenders.
Iraola said: ‘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 [Foley, the club chairman], 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.’
Man United are another club in the market for a new permanent head coach at the end of the season, with interim manager Michael Carrick among the candidates after successfully weathering the storm at Old Trafford following Ruben Amorim’s exit.
Tottenham are understood to have weighed up a move for Iraola in March 2025 before eventually hiring Thomas Frank, who arrived at the end of last season following Ange Postecoglou’s sacking.
Former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi signed a lucrative five-year contract at Spurs last week, with the club threatened by relegation after dismal spells under Frank and interim boss Igor Tudor.
Bournemouth sit 11th in the Premier League after Saturday’s triumphant win over leaders Arsenal, unbeaten in their last 12 league games.
Iraola was forced to adapt after losing a string of top stars including Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, Milos Kerkez to Liverpool and Ilya Zabarnyi to PSG last summer, having impressively finished ninth during the 2024-25 campaign.
Replacing Gary O’Neil, the Cherries boss arrived from Rayo Vallecano in June 2023 and quickly won the favour of Bournemouth supporters for playing an attacking and progressive brand of football.
Iraola will take charge of Bournemouth’s final six games of the season against Newcastle, Leeds, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Man City and Nottingham Forest before starting his new chapter in football management.
