Eyebrows had been raised when Bournemouth parted methods with Gary O’Neil final summer time.
Unexpectedly appointed after Scott Parker’s sudden and surprising departure, he had finally steered the Cherries away from relegation hassle throughout their first season again within the Premier League.
Chairman Invoice Foley wished to freshen issues up; to take the membership in a brand new course as he put his stamp on the Dorset membership, and so changed him with Andoni Iraola the exact same day. “Along with his contract in Spain coming to an finish this summer time we wished to behave shortly,” mentioned the American businessman.
The previous Spain worldwide – who performed in the identical group as Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso as a teenager – had led Rayo Vallecano out of LaLiga 2, then to 2 successive Twelfth-placed finishes within the high flight, and was in demand.
Andoni Iraola has been in cost at Bournemouth since June 2023
Foley backed his man within the switch market and bankrolled new signings to the tune of greater than £110 million. However two months in, the venture seemed to be stalling quickly; it took 10 video games for the primary win and by November 4, Bournemouth had been third backside after a 6-1 trouncing at Man Metropolis.
In hindsight, you would in all probability put the poor begin all the way down to teething issues. Beneath stress from the surface, however evidently not inside, the membership’s persistence in Iraola was rewarded – on April 28, following a 3-0 win over Brighton, the Cherries reached 48 factors – their greatest Premier League return.
“Everybody says in regards to the dangerous begin and it is true that it was a very dangerous begin,” says Iraola, calm and composed – as ever – as he sits down within the dwelling dressing room on the Vitality Stadium for an unique chat with Sky Sports activities.
He can smile about it now. “Wanting again, it in all probability was the most effective factor to occur to us, however in that second, it was actually exhausting!
“I keep in mind taking part in towards the highest groups originally, in very tough video games. We had been nonetheless not there, however later we may play video games the place we had extra probabilities, with a extra developed group that was extra prepared.
“It was not the worst factor, wanting now with some perspective, and is one thing that may serve us, particularly for subsequent season. The document factors (tally) was a very good reward for the season the gamers gave us.”
The choose of Bournemouth’s objectives from the 2023/24 Premier League season together with unbelievable strikes from Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing and Luis Sinisterra
As an alternative of returning to his native Spain through the low season, Iraola stayed within the UK as he ready for his second season in cost. As a biking fanatic, when time allowed, he was glued to the Tour de France and the Olympics.
Pre-season took the Cherries to the USA, the place they confronted Wrexham and Arsenal and, when Iraola was again on the coaching pitch, there have been double classes aplenty.
He is aware of preparation might be key after final yr: “We’ve to reach straightaway originally of the season.” There’s a trace of warning in his voice.
Foley’s lofty ambitions for the membership have the followers excited. Discuss of reaching Europe inside 5 years of his takeover final December is music to the ears of supporters whose membership got here near extinction lower than twenty years in the past.
Bournemouth rounded off their pre-season marketing campaign with a 3-2 win over Girona
Given these goals and final season’s trajectory, expectations are, naturally, certain to be increased this time period.
Matching outdoors expectations, although, isn’t excessive on Iraola’s listing of priorities.
“We can’t management expectations and I’ve mentioned a whole lot of occasions that I do not belief the long-term objectives an excessive amount of,” he says.
“As soon as we play towards Forest on the primary day, if we lose, (folks will say) we’ll get relegated and if we win, (folks will say) we’ll be within the high 10! After 38 video games, the desk places you, roughly, in your home.
“You need to management what you may management. We’ve to focus in each recreation. I do know we now have the primary three video games, then there’s a world break – I do not look a lot additional.
“We’re taking part in in a contest the place we all know we aren’t going to have a straightforward recreation; even those we win are going to be actually powerful video games and we should preserve working till the tip.
“We additionally must know the identical approach after we are taking part in Liverpool or Man Metropolis away we may have our probabilities. It will likely be way more tough, however we can’t say there are 12 video games within the season we can’t get something from. We’ve to attempt in each recreation.”
Iraola has the benefit of getting overseen minimal squad turnover this summer time. Enes Unal’s mortgage transfer from Getafe has grow to be everlasting, Dean Huijsen has joined from Juventus to switch Lloyd Kelly and promising striker Daniel Jebbison has signed from Sheffield United for a reported compensation charge of £1.5m.
Star striker Dominic Solanke’s £65m transfer to Tottenham final week was headline information, but it surely didn’t come fully out of the blue and the Cherries have over a fortnight to reinvest that charge in a alternative, ought to they so want.
Dominic Solanke joined Tottenham for £65m
“We’re mainly the identical and we now have the expertise of a complete season with the ups, the lows and video games the place we realized loads. Now we will get into extra element in several areas; we all know one another, I do know the place the gamers carry out higher.
“A whole lot of our group is kind of younger and particularly for the younger gamers Milos [Kerkez], Ilia Zabarnyi, Alex Scott, Dango [Outtara], one season within the Premier League could make them enhance loads and I anticipate they will increase their degree.”
One of many favourites for relegation final time period, on the time of writing, Bournemouth are nowhere close to that dialog. Sky Wager at present have the Cherries priced as excessive as 6/1 to return to the Championship.
Nonetheless, Iraola is not going to take any discover of such concepts – even after a optimistic pre-season.
“We have achieved a great job, however you actually by no means know till the competitors begins,” he concludes. “We’ve a great base from the previous season and we now have a great platform to proceed constructing.
Andoni Iraola says he loved his first season managing within the Premier League, ‘even within the worst moments’.
“For me, our second season is essential. We’ve organisation and construction as a group, however we now have to enhance. Different groups are signing rather well and I am positive they are going to be excellent, higher than previous seasons.
“If we do not enhance, we are going to in all probability end in a worse place, so collectively and individually we now have to evolve the way in which we did issues final season. Generally it isn’t going to be sufficient, so you must discover new methods to realize the identical issues.”
The rollercoaster of final season has little question been the catalyst for Iraola’s elevated pragmatism. Inside, although, he’s positive to be wanting extra.
