Andoni Iraola
Iraola in 2023
Personal information
Full name Andoni Iraola Sagarna[1]
Date of birth (1982-06-22) 22 June 1982 (age 41)[1]
Place of birth Usurbil, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Bournemouth (manager)
Youth career
1991–1999 Antiguoko
1999–2000 Athletic Bilbao
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Basconia 35 (4)
2001–2003 Bilbao Athletic 75 (15)
2003–2015 Athletic Bilbao 406 (33)
2015–2016 New York City 38 (0)
Total 554 (52)
International career
2001 Spain U18 1 (0)
2003 Spain U21 1 (0)
2008–2011 Spain 7 (0)
2003–2013 Basque Country 9 (0)
Managerial career
2018–2019 AEK Larnaca
2019–2020 Mirandés
2020–2023 Rayo Vallecano
2023– Bournemouth
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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 current manager of Premier League club 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.

Playing career

Club

Athletic Bilbao

Iraola playing for Athletic Bilbao in 2007

Iraola was born in Usurbil, Gipuzkoa.[4] He played as a youth for Antiguoko,[5] alongside 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.[7][8][9] On 30 August 2003, he made his first La Liga appearance, starting in a 1–0 home loss against FC Barcelona,[10] and his five goals in 30 appearances helped the team to qualify for the UEFA Cup.[1]

During his 12 seasons, Iraola never played fewer than 30 league matches, scoring in all but one league campaign – like former club legend Aitor Larrazábal, who played as a left-back[3][11]– while also helping the Basque side to finish second in three Copa del Rey tournaments and the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League. On 28 January 2007, he netted twice in a 2–0 away win over neighbours Real Sociedad, who were finally relegated; Athletic narrowly avoided the drop, ranking in 17th position.[12] He played his first cup final in 2009, a 4–1 loss to Barcelona at Mestalla in Valencia,[13] and three years later helped them to finish runners-up in both the domestic cup[14] and the Europa League.[15]

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 Helsinki in the playoff round of the UEFA Europa League (9–3 on aggregate).[16]

Iraola renewed his contract with the club on 4 December 2013, keeping him at the San Mamés until 30 June 2015.[17] In the 24th minute of his last league appearance against Villarreal CF 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.[18] He captained the team in his last match, the 2015 Copa del Rey final which was lost 3–1 to Barcelona.[19]

New York City

On 16 June 2015, aged 33, Iraola moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.[20][21] He made his debut against Toronto FC at the Yankee Stadium on 12 July, playing the entirety of a 4–4 draw.[22]

Iraola announced his retirement on 17 November 2016.[23][24]

International

On 20 August 2008, Iraola was called by new Spain coach Vicente del Bosque for a friendly with Denmark, alongside teammate Fernando Amorebieta.[25] He entered the pitch in the final 15 minutes of the 3–0 away victory, coming in as a substitute for Sergio Ramos.[26]

On 29 March 2011, after nearly one and a half years without playing for the national team, Iraola started in a 3–1 defeat of Lithuania in Kaunas for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers.[27] He was due to make the cut for the final squad, but injury forced him out in favour of Atlético Madrid's Juanfran.[28]

Iraola played on the Basque representative side for a full decade, having debuted late on in a 2–1 win over Uruguay on 27 December 2003.[29][30]

Coaching career

AEK Larnaca

Iraola was appointed manager of Cypriot club AEK Larnaca FC on 18 June 2018, succeeding his compatriot Imanol Idiakez.[31] He was sacked the following 14 January,[32] after nearly two months without winning a single match.[33]

Mirandés

On 10 July 2019, Iraola replaced the departed Borja Jiménez at the helm of CD Mirandés, newly promoted to Segunda División.[34] He took the team to the semi-finals of the Spanish Cup for the second time in their 92-year history, notably disposing of top-tier sides RC Celta de Vigo, Sevilla FC and Villarreal.[35] On 21 July 2020, he left the club as his contract expired.[36]

Rayo Vallecano

Iraola remained in the second division in August 2020, taking over from Paco Jémez at Rayo Vallecano.[37] On 6 July 2021, after achieving promotion in the playoffs, he extended his contract until 2022.[38] The following season, he again led a club to the last four of the national cup; it was the second time Rayo had achieved this, the first occasion coming 40 years earlier.[39]

In February 2023, Iraola was approached by Leeds United of the Premier League, but was not given permission to leave the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas.[40] He left at the end of the season, having turned down a renewal offer.[41]

Bournemouth

On 19 June 2023, Iraola was appointed manager of AFC Bournemouth on a two-year deal.[42] His debut on 12 August was a 1–1 home draw with West Ham United, with a late equaliser by Dominic Solanke.[43] He achieved his first win in the tenth round, beating fellow strugglers Burnley 2–1 with goals from Antoine Semenyo and Philip Billing.[44]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[45][46][47]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Basconia 2000–01 Tercera División 35 4 – – – 35 4
Bilbao Athletic 2001–02 Segunda División 38 5 – – – 38 5
2002–03 Segunda División 37 10 – – – 37 10
Total 75 15 – – – 75 15
Athletic Bilbao 2003–04 La Liga 30 5 1 0 – – 31 5
2004–05 La Liga 34 4 7 1 8 1 – 49 6
2005–06 La Liga 38 3 4 0 – – 42 3
2006–07 La Liga 35 5 2 0 – – 37 5
2007–08 La Liga 36 1 5 1 – – 41 2
2008–09 La Liga 33 6 8 0 – – 41 6
2009–10 La Liga 37 2 2 0 11 0 2 0 52 2
2010–11 La Liga 37 4 4 0 – – 41 4
2011–12 La Liga 35 1 9 0 15 0 – 59 1
2012–13 La Liga 35 0 1 0 7 1 – 43 1
2013–14 La Liga 34 1 6 0 0 0 – 40 1
2014–15 La Liga 22 1 6 0 5 1 – 33 2
Total 406 33 56 2 46 3 2 0 510 38
New York City 2015 Major League Soccer 9 0 0 0 – – 9 0
2016 Major League Soccer 29 0 0 0 – 2 0 31 0
Total 38 0 0 0 – 2 0 40 0
Career total 554 52 56 2 46 3 4 0 660 57
  1. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, MLS playoffs.

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[48]
National team Year Apps Goals
Spain 2008 2 0
2009 2 0
2011 3 0
Total 7 0

Managerial statistics

As of match played 4 February 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
AEK Larnaca Cyprus 23 May 2018 14 January 2019 29 12 9 8 44 28 +16 041.38 [49]
Mirandés Spain 10 July 2019 21 July 2020 49 18 17 14 73 72 +1 036.73 [50]
Rayo Vallecano Spain 6 August 2020 30 June 2023 136 54 32 50 166 160 +6 039.71 [51]
AFC Bournemouth England 1 July 2023 present 27 11 6 10 44 47 −3 040.74
Total 241 95 64 82 327 307 +20 039.42 —

Honours

Player

Athletic Bilbao

Manager

AEK Larnaca

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Andoni IRAOLA Sagama [sic]". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (20 February 2011). "Iraola, sin fin" [Iraola, without limits]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b Río, Endika (11 October 2013). "Iraola igualará a Larrazabal en el ranking histórico" [Iraola to equal Larrazabal in historical ranking]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  4. ^ Herguedas, Miguel Ángel (26 September 2021). "Andoni Iraola: "El fútbol y la sociedad han cambiado, pero no creo que para peor"" [Andoni Iraola: "Football and society have changed, but I don't think it was for the worse"]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Jugadores relevantes" [Relevant players] (in Spanish). Antiguoko KE. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  6. ^ Lowe, Sid (29 September 2023). "Iraola v Arteta: childhood teammates in Basque Dream Team meet again". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  7. ^ Artetxe, José Luis (25 August 2003). "Iraola ha convencido a Ernesto Valverde" [Iraola has convinced Ernesto Valverde]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Valencia empata e perde chance de liderar Espanhol" [Valencia draw and miss chance to be top in Spain] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. 11 September 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Iraizoz asegura que no hay preocupación por los penaltis fallados" [Iraizoz assures there is nothing to worry about regarding missed penalties]. El Correo (in Spanish). 23 February 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Athletic Bilbao 0–1 Barcelona". ESPN Soccernet. 30 August 2003. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  11. ^ Moscoso, Álvaro (22 November 2011). "Iraola es el defensa más goleador de toda la Liga" [Iraola is the defender with the most goals in the entire League] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Real Sociedad 0–2 Athletic Bilbao". ESPN Soccernet. 28 January 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  13. ^ a b Melero, Delfín (13 May 2009). "El Barça se corona por aplastamiento" [Barça crowned through crushing]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  14. ^ a b Lowe, Sid (26 May 2012). "Barcelona end Guardiola era with Copa del Rey win over Athletic Bilbao". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  15. ^ a b Atkin, John (9 May 2012). "Falcao at double as Atlético march to title". UEFA. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  16. ^ Bryan, Paul (24 August 2012). "Bielsa delighted as Athletic get back on track". UEFA. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  17. ^ "Andoni Iraola's renewal". Athletic Bilbao. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  18. ^ Estepa, Javier (23 May 2015). "El Athletic monta la fiesta" [Athletic get the party started]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Andoni Iraola: Neymar has examples in his own team to learn from". Sport. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  20. ^ "New York City FC sign veteran defender Andoni Iraola". New York City FC. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  21. ^ "New York City FC sign Athletic Bilbao veteran Andoni Iraola, Manchester City youth product Angelino". Major League Soccer. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  22. ^ "New York City FC vs. Toronto FC: Match recap". New York City FC. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Andoni Iraola retires". New York City FC. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  24. ^ Stejskal, Sam (17 November 2016). "New York City FC's Andoni Iraola announces retirement". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  25. ^ "Amorebieta e Iraola, sorpresas en la lista de Del Bosque" [Amorebieta and Iraola, surprises in Del Bosque's list]. Marca (in Spanish). 14 August 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  26. ^ Rodríguez, Rubén (20 August 2008). "Del Bosque debuta con victoria en Dinamarca" [Del Bosque debuts with victory in Denmark]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  27. ^ Januška, Vaidotas (29 March 2011). "Mata the catalyst as Spain win in Lithuania". UEFA. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  28. ^ López, José David (28 May 2012). "Negredo, Jordi Alba y Juanfran, tres caras nuevas para tres necesidades" [Negredo, Jordi Alba and Juanfran, three new faces for three needs] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  29. ^ "Dos goles de Bolo terminan con la resistencia uruguaya" [Two goals from Bolo finish off the Uruguayan resistance]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 27 December 2003. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  30. ^ "Euskadi golea a Perú" [Euskadi thrash Peru]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 28 December 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  31. ^ García, Alberto (18 June 2018). "Iraola y Murillo, presentados por el AEK Larnaca" [Iraola and Murillo, presented by AEK Larnaca]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  32. ^ Zaballa, Carlos (14 January 2019). "Andoni Iraola, destituido del AEK Larnaca" [Andoni Iraola, sacked by AEK Larnaca]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  33. ^ Manchón, Martín (14 January 2019). "Los números de Iraola como entrenador del AEK Larnaca" [The numbers of Iraola as manager of AEK Larnaca]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  34. ^ "Andoni Iraola, nuevo entrenador del Club Deportivo Mirandés" [Andoni Iraola, new manager of Club Deportivo Mirandés] (in Spanish). CD Mirandés. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  35. ^ "El Mirandés obra otro milagro histórico y volverá a jugar unas semifinales de Copa del Rey" [Mirandés work another historical miracle and will play semi-finals of the King's Cup again] (in Spanish). Eurosport. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  36. ^ "COMUNICADO OFICIAL | CLUB DEPORTIVO MIRANDÉS S.A.D." [OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | CLUB DEPORTIVO MIRANDÉS S.A.D.] (in Spanish). CD Mirandés. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  37. ^ "Andoni Iraola nuevo entrenador del Rayo Vallecano" [Andoni Iraola new coach of Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  38. ^ "Andoni Iraola 2022" (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  39. ^ "El Rayo de Iraola hace historia en Copa Del Rey al volver 40 años después a semis" [Iraola's Rayo make history in the King's Cup by returning to the semis after 40 years]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  40. ^ "Andoni Iraola: Leeds approach for Rayo Vallecano boss blocked, says Guillem Balague". BBC Sport. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  41. ^ "Andoni Iraola se va del Rayo Vallecano" [Andoni Iraola leaves Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  42. ^ Martin, Richard (19 June 2023). "Andoni Iraola: Who is Bournemouth's new manager?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  43. ^ Olley, Declan (12 August 2023). "Bournemouth 1–1 West Ham: Dominic Solanke rescues point for Cherries after Jarrod Bowen's stunning opener". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  44. ^ Howarth, Matthew (28 October 2023). "AFC Bournemouth 2–1 Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  45. ^ Andoni Iraola at Athletic Bilbao
  46. ^ Andoni Iraola at BDFutbol
  47. ^ "Andoni Iraola". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  48. ^ "Andoni Iraola". European Football. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  49. ^ "AEK Larnaca: Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  50. ^ "Matches Andoni Iraola, 2019–20 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  51. ^ "Matches Andoni Iraola, 2020–21 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
    "Matches Andoni Iraola, 2021–22 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
    "Matches Andoni Iraola, 2022–23 season". BDFutbol. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  52. ^ "El FC Barcelona golea al Athletic y conquista el título (3–0)" [FC Barcelona thrash Athletic and conquer title (3–0)]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). 23 August 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  53. ^ Constantinou, Iacovos (29 September 2018). "Turbulent Apoel take on AEK in Super Cup". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 31 May 2022.

External links

AFC Bournemouth – current squad
Current Premier League managers
Managerial positions
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