[Sports] Andoni Iraola: Who is Bournemouth's new manager?

[BirSaNN]

After Andoni Iraola had masterminded Rayo Vallecano's first win over Barcelona in 19 years, the upstart coach was asked if he wanted to work in the Premier League.

"I'd love to because now it's the best league in the world," he said. "But I'm conscious I've just started and I have to prove myself a lot more as a coach."

Eighteen months on and that day has arrived, with Iraola signing a two-year deal with Bournemouth following the expiry of his contract with the La Liga outfit.

The 40-year-old's opportunity comes after the shock sacking of Gary O'Neil, seven months after he was made the club's permanent boss and helped them to Premier League safety.

But the Cherries' new head coach is an ambitious young thinker who is at the forefront of modern tactics and always looking for new ways to improve.

Proving his worth with smaller clubs
Iraola has a history of overachieving everywhere he has been, beginning with his playing career.

He spent 15 years with Athletic Bilbao, the club who famously only pick players with ties to the Basque Country. In his four seasons as captain, the club reached two Copa del Rey finals, a Europa League final and qualified for the Champions League.

In his first venture into management with AEK Larnaca, Iraola led the Cypriot side to qualify for the Europa League group stage for only the second time.

At little-known Spanish second division side Mirandes, he steered a team destined for relegation to a mid-table finish - as well as leading them to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, knocking out La Liga heavyweights Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Villarreal.

link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64566884