3 Top Contenders to Replace Andoni Iraola at AFC Bournemouth

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3 Top Contenders to Replace Andoni Iraola at AFC Bournemouth

Saikat Sengupta

Modified - Apr 14, 2026, 08:14 PM

4 min

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Summary

Andoni Iraola is all set to leave Bournemouth after the end of the 2025-26 season.
Iraola spent three years as Bournemouth coach at Vitality Park.
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last five outings.

From getting promoted from the EFL Championship to competing for a continental spot in the English Premier League, AFC Bournemouth has come a long way. One of the leading protagonists of this fairytale story has been the Spanish gaffer Andoni Iraola, who has completely changed the trajectory of this club. Following confirmation that Andoni Iraola is all set to leave Vitality Park after rendering his services for over three years, AFC Bournemouth are actively in search of their new manager.

In this article, we take a look at the top three managerial candidates to replace Andoni Iraola at AFC Bournemouth to find out Bournemouth new manager

AFC Bournemouth Statement on Andoni Iraola Departure:

Andoni has been instrumental in shaping the direction of this football club over the past three seasons. He brought intensity, innovation, and a clear philosophy that elevated AFC Bournemouth both on and off the pitch. We are incredibly thankful for his leadership and will always have great memories of our time working together, as well as the things we accomplished.
Andoni is someone I have a lot of admiration for, both as a head coach and as a person. His attention to detail, tactical intelligence and ability to bring the best out of players is something we have seen every day. We’ve continued to watch the development of individuals under his coaching both here at AFC Bournemouth and now in some of Europe’s top leagues too. We of course respect his decision and thank him for everything he has done for this football club over the last three years.

Andoni Iraola also commented and thanked the club for the past three years…

It has been an honour to manage AFC Bournemouth and I am proud of what we have achieved together. I’m thankful to the players and staff that I’ve worked with, as well as Bill, who have all made my time here so special. As for the fans, you have continued to show your fantastic support to myself and the team, and for that I will always be grateful. I feel this is the right moment for me to step away, but I will always carry fantastic memories of this club.

Who will replace Andoni Iraola at AFC Bournemouth? Top 3 Contenders

Marco Rose

The German gaffer is one of the favourites to take over the reins from Iraola as Bournemouth new manager. During his three seasons in RB Leipzig, he delivered two major trophies, including the DFB Pokal and the Super Cup. Rose perfectly fits in Bournemouth's progressive and attacking identity and is highly reputed for winning silverware in different countries. He is currently a free agent, and that makes him immediately available to take up the job in the summer. He has regularly qualified for the UEFA Champions League with Leipzig and is known for high-pressure, vertical football, very similar to that of Iraola

Kieran McKenna

Kieran McKenna is one of the most exciting young English managers currently and has led youth teams of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United before taking on the role of head coach at Ipswich Town. McKenna has built one of the most structured attacking systems in England and is widely known for player development and tactical flexibility. He is a long-term project, but could be a bit too overpriced, but could be a good Andoni Iraola replacement.

Thomas Frank

The Danish manager Thomas Frank had unfinished business in the English Premier League after Tottenham Hotspur parted ways with the former Brentford gaffer mid-season. He is known for overachieving and delivering success with limited resources. He took Brentford to the Premier League and established them as a stable mid-table side, and Frank can be a pretty good option as Bournemouth next manager.