Andoni Iraola: Bournemouth head coach to leave at end of season

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola is leaving at the end of the season.

Sky Sports News understands former RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund boss Marco Rose is on a shortlist of three candidates to succeed Iraola once he departs the club.

The Bournemouth head coach is out of contract in three months and has turned down numerous offers to extend his stay amid interest from his former club Athletic Club and links to Premier League rivals.

Iraola, who has six games left at Bournemouth, departs after a record-breaking three years on the south coast. "This is the right moment for me to step away," he said in a statement on the club's website.

The Spaniard's final home game is against Manchester City on Sunday May 17, ahead of a trip to Nottingham Forest on the last day of the Premier League season.

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Bournemouth felt they tried everything possible to persuade Iraola to stay, and although they are disappointed with his decision, there remains a mutual respect between the two parties.

Talks were first opened over 15 months ago, but Iraola preferred to wait until later in the campaign to have those meaningful conversations.

The search for a new head coach had been taking place in the background for some time, and Sky Sports News understands there are three favoured candidates on Bournemouth's shortlist.

Bournemouth, currently 11th, could end Iraola's time on a high with a first European qualification in the club's history still a possibility this season.

They sit two points adrift of seventh, which would be enough to play in the Conference League next season.

Iraola has been a popular figure at Bournemouth since he was appointed in June 2023 to replace Gary O'Neil, implementing an attacking, progressive and dynamic style of football.

Bournemouth finished ninth in the Premier League table last season, finishing with a club-record 56 points, breaking the Cherries' best top-flight return for a second season running.

Iraola has had to cope with the sales of Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo this season for £253m.

Where could Iraola go next?

Iraola will depart Bournemouth as one of the Premier League's hottest coaching prospects – but where could he be off to next?

Athletic Club are interested in bringing Iraola back to the Basque Country as they search for a new head coach with Ernesto Valverde set to depart at the end of the season.

Iraola spent 12 years in Bilbao and played more than 500 games for the club. He was captain of the Marcelo Bielsa side that knocked Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United out of the Europa League in 2011/12.

Sky in Germany understands former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic is another potential candidate for Athletic Club - but any decision is expected to have to wait for the outcome of the club's presidential elections in May.

Crystal Palace viewed Iraola as a prime candidate to replace the departing Oliver Glasner but are believed to have moved on to other targets. Before Iraola decided on his Bournemouth future, it was thought to be unlikely that he would make the switch to Selhurst Park.

Tottenham were among the clubs linked with Iraola but have now appointed Roberto De Zerbi on a five-year contract.

Manchester United are yet to make a final decision on who their next head coach will be for next season with Michael Carrick in post until the summer. United have not spoken to any other candidates at this stage and will not rush into an appointment.

Speculation around Eddie Howe's future at Newcastle has seen Iraola shorten in the odds to become the favourite with some bookies to be the next to take over at St James' Park.

Howe said last week that he is 100 per cent committed to Newcastle but that it is "very difficult" to look too far beyond this season.

Iraola's final six games at Bournemouth

Saturday April 18: Newcastle (A) - Premier League

Wednesday April 22: Leeds United (H) - Premier League, live on Sky Sports

Saturday May 2: Crystal Palace (H) - Premier League

Saturday May 9: Fulham (A) - Premier League

Sunday May 18: Man City (H) - Premier League

Sunday May 24: Nottingham Forest (A) - Premier League

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Andoni Iraola: Bournemouth head coach to leave at end of season