Iraola rewarded with new two-year contract at Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola has been rewarded with a new contract at AFC Bournemouth, extending his stay until at least the end of the 2025/26 season after securing a club-record Premier League points total in his first campaign.

After taking only three points from the first nine matches, Iraola has led Bournemouth to 11th place with 48 points and been nominated for the Barclays Manager of the Season award.

"I'm very happy to sign the contract," Iraola told the club's official website. "For me, it is a matter of renewing the confidence from both sides.

"We have had a good experience with our first season together in the Premier League, and I am happy that both sides want to continue the relationship further.

"I'm proud that we achieved the points record. We are playing in a difficult competition, with very good opposition. The season started slowly, but I think we improved a lot and are playing in the right way.

"We have to continue improving the team, because the level of the Premier League is really high, and I'm looking forward to working with Simon (technical director Simon Francis) and the rest of the team over the summer to help us do that. 

"I would like to thank the supporters for everything in our first year together. I am thankful that they were supporting us even in the beginning when we were not winning games, and that they have been very helpful to the players for the whole year."

'Huge impact'

Bournemouth owner and chairman Bill Foley, pictured above on the right alongside Iraola and chief executive Neill Blake, added: “Andoni has made a huge impact since arriving at the club and we are thrilled to agree to this extension.

“We have achieved a club-record points tally in the Premier League thanks to a series of excellent performances and results from the team.

“The players have clearly bought into his footballing philosophy and our supporters have really taken to him. We look forward to continuing to work with him.”