Andoni Iraola is one of the most in-demand managers heading into the summer, with Manchester United, Tottenham, Athletic Bilbao and Crystal Palace all interested in the Bournemouth head coach
Andoni Iraola is in high demand(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester United will face competition from Crystal Palace if they try to hire Andoni Iraola this summer. Iraola’s contract with Bournemouth is set to expire at the end of the June and the Spaniard is already attracting lots of interest.
Iraola is yet to make a decision on whether he will stay with the Cherries beyond the end of the season. And his potential availability has fuelled speculation he could land a prestigious job elsewhere, with United, Tottenham, Palace and Athletic Bilbao among those interested in his services.
United will appoint a long-term successor to Ruben Amorim this summer, with Michael Carrick the frontrunner, having won seven of his 10 matches in charge as interim boss. Palace need to replace the departing Oliver Glasner, Athletic Club need to find a successor to Ernesto Valverde, who recently announced he will leave the club at the end of the season, and Spurs are in turmoil with Igor Tudor likely to depart soon.
Iraola has a brilliant reputation after leading Bournemouth to 12th and ninth in his first two campaigns. Despite losing several key players in the summer transfer window, he has the Cherries on course for another impressive finish, with the south coast outfit currently 13th and unbeaten in 11 games.
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The Telegraph reports that his work with Bournemouth has attracted Palace, who have known since January that they need to replace Glasner in the summer. The 43-year-old is considered one of the best young coaches in the league and Palace will try to tempt him into another ‘project’, rather than jumping into a higher-pressure job further up the league.
Iraola is likely to be of interest to Athletic Club, who need to replace Valverde in the summer. Iraola made more than 500 appearances for his home-town club and that emotional connection could trump other options, although former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic has been strongly linked with the role.
For their part, United’s chiefs are yet to hold talks with any prospective new managers, partly due to Carrick’s impact as interim boss. Director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada are content to move slowly and could therefore miss out on Iraola, who has played his cards close to his chest.
Oliver Glasner will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
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“Definitely [closer to a decision]. It is something we will decide sooner rather than later, but there is no news,” Iraola said when he was asked about his future earlier this month. “When there is something to say, we will say it.”
Pressed further, he added: “I have one thing clear, the club and me are very open. We talk a lot and very sincerely. We have open conversations, but obviously we cannot say here, outside, what we are telling inside. I think that’s how we should work.
“I have a great relationship with [technical director] Simon [Francis] and [president of football operations] Tiago [Pinto]. Everything is fine between us. We have things that we discuss, but they are internal conversations.”
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