Bournemouth’s owner, Bill Foley, is planning to hold contract talks with head coach Andoni Iraola next week in an attempt to ward off growing interest from clubs like Tottenham. Iraola’s current contract with the club expires at the end of next season, and Foley is eager to offer him a longer deal, convinced that the Spaniard can be persuaded to stay at the Vitality Stadium despite the speculation surrounding his future.
Foley is expected to fly to Bournemouth after Easter to meet with Iraola and discuss the potential for an extended contract. There is increasing confidence within the club that Iraola, who has played a pivotal role in Bournemouth’s rise in the Premier League, will remain at the club, especially if they qualify for European competition for the first time in their history. The club is hopeful that this will be a key factor in convincing the coach to sign a new deal.
Iraola has earned significant praise for his work with Bournemouth, particularly after the team ended a six-match winless streak by securing a 1-0 victory over Fulham, which lifted them to eighth place in the Premier League. If they maintain their current form, Bournemouth could qualify for the Europa Conference League, which would be a historic achievement for the club. Last season, Iraola led Bournemouth to their highest-ever points tally of 48, and with six games remaining this season, they are on track to match that total.
The Spaniard’s energetic and counterattacking style of football has won him many admirers in English football, although some have questioned whether his tactics would suit a team like Tottenham, who are accustomed to dominating possession. Despite this, Iraola is highly regarded as one of the leading domestic coaching candidates to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, should the club decide to make a managerial change.
Ange Postecoglou has come under immense pressure at Tottenham after a disappointing season in which the team has lost 17 Premier League matches. The club’s hopes of keeping their manager could hinge on winning the Europa League, with the quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt set to be a decisive moment in Postecoglou’s tenure. Iraola’s name, along with Fulham’s Marco Silva and Brentford’s Thomas Frank, has emerged as a strong contender for the Tottenham job, given their respective successes in the Premier League.
Although Iraola is ambitious and wants to work at the highest level, he is also happy at Bournemouth. The club has given him a significant amount of influence over the team’s transfer strategy, aided by the data-driven approach introduced by the club’s owners, Black Knight Sports and Entertainment. This has allowed Bournemouth to make astute signings such as Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, and Evanilson, which have been key to their continued progress in the Premier League. With the club in a strong financial position, comfortably within the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, they can demand high prices for their players, ensuring that they can maintain a competitive squad.
Last summer, the only significant departure from Bournemouth was the £55 million sale of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham. However, with long-term contracts in place for most of the squad, Bournemouth is confident that they can keep their key players together. Iraola joined Bournemouth in 2023 on a two-year contract and extended his deal in May of the following year. At his previous club, Rayo Vallecano, Iraola preferred working on a 12-month rolling contract, a structure that provided him with flexibility and security.
As discussions about Iraola’s future continue, Bournemouth will be hoping that their investment in both the manager and the team’s infrastructure will result in a positive outcome, with the club moving towards a potential European adventure under Iraola’s stewardship.
