Andoni Iraola Sagarna (Basque pronunciation: [andoni iɾa.ola s̺aɣarna], Spanish: [anˈdoni iɾaˈola saˈɣaɾna]; born 22 June 1982) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.
Utilised primarily as a right-back through his career, he was highly combative and possessed good passing skills. He spent the vast majority of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao,[2] appearing in 510 competitive matches over 12 seasons.[3]
Iraola began managing in 2018, being in charge of Rayo Vallecano for three years. In 2023, he was appointed at Premier League club Bournemouth.
Iraola was born in Usurbil, Gipuzkoa.[4] He played as a youth for Antiguoko, along with[5] teammates such as Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso, Mikel Alonso and Aritz Aduriz.[6] A product of Athletic Bilbao’s youth system at Lezama, he made his debut with the first team in the 2003–04 season, becoming first-choice while often taking penalties and free kicks.On 30 August 2003, he made his first Lappearance, starting in a 1–0 home loss against] and his five goals in 30 appearances helped the team to
During his 12 seasons, Iraola never played fewer than 30 league matches, scoring in all but one league campaign – like former club legenho played as a left-while also helping the side to finish second in three Copa del tournaments and the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League. On 28 January 2007, he netted twice in a 2–0 away win over neighbours Real Sociedre finally relegated; Athletic narrowly avoided the drop, ranking in 17th position.[13] He played his first cup final in 2009, a 4–1 loss to Barcelona at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia,[14] and three years later helped them to finish runners-up in both the domestic cup[15] and the Europa League.[16]
2012–13 marked the first year where Iraola failed to find the net in the league, but he continued to be the side’s first-choice in his position as he featured in 35 games. His only goal of the season came on 24 August 2012 in a 6–0 home rout of HJK in the playoff round of the UEFA Europa League (9–3 on aggregate).[17]
Iraola renewed his contract with the club on 4 December 2013, keeping him at the San Mamés until 30 June 2015.[18] In the 24th minute of his last league appearance against Villarreal in May 2015, Aritz Aduriz offered him the taking of a penalty kick but he declined, so the former converted it instead; the two players then combined for Iraola to score from open play four minutes later.[19] He captained the team in his last match, the 2015 Copa del Rey final which was lost 3–1 to Barcelona.[20]
