Andoni Iraola future: Cherries boss 'loving life' at Vitality Stadium amid Real Madrid and Tottenham links

1 April 2025, 14:40 | Updated: 2 April 2025, 15:21

On June 19 2023, a relatively unknown Spanish manager became the first foreign boss of AFC Bournemouth. Fast forward 652 days and that man isn't unknown anymore. In fact, he's so well known right now - he's one of the hottest prospects in the footballing world.

In the last few weeks alone, he's been linked with Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur. Last season he masterminded Bournemouth's highest-ever points tally in the Premier League and looks set to better that this year, and he's done it with style, charisma and a huge chunk of modesty.

In case you didn't know who I'm talking about, it is Bournemouth's head coach Andoni Iraola.

It's unsurprising really; he was in the same youth team as Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso, comes from the same Basque region in Spain as Unai Emery and was team-mates with Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Silva in the twilight years of his playing career.

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