Bournemouth announces Andoni Iraola as new head coach

Andoni Iraola, former head coach at Rayo Vallecano, has been appointed as AFC Bournemouth's new head coach on a two-year deal, the club announced today.

Iraola's contract with Rayo Vallecano had just expired following a three-year tenure which saw them secure an 11th-placed finish in La Liga last season.

He led Rayo Vallecano to a promotion to the top flight in his first season in 2020/21 and took the team to the Copa del Rey semi-finals in the following campaign.

His previous managerial experience includes a stint with Segunda División side Mirandés and Cyprus's AEK Larnaca, where he led his team in the group stage of the Europa League.

Prior to transitioning to a managerial role, Iraola enjoyed a prolific playing career, with over 400 appearances for Athletic Bilbao and seven caps for Spain.

He also played for New York City FC during their initial two seasons in Major League Soccer.

In a statement, AFC Bournemouth owner and chairman Bill Foley said, "We're so excited to welcome Andoni to the club. He was highly sought after by other clubs across the continent, and his style of play has been an important factor in making this decision. His achievements in Spain have certainly been very impressive, and we're confident that he is the right man to lead our next chapter."

Foley further added that the club has identified a number of targets in the transfer market to supplement their strong playing squad, giving Iraola the best opportunity to consolidate their Premier League status and progress further.

Iraola will start working with the playing squad and backroom staff at the beginning of pre-season in July.

His first games in charge will be against Hibernian and Maccabi Tel Aviv in pre-season friendlies, before making his Vitality Stadium debut against Atalanta and FC Lorient.

The team's Premier League campaign will kick-off with a match against West Ham United.

Earlier today, the club announced that they had parted ways with Gary O'Neil despite his success in keeping the team in the Premier League for another season.