Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award after guiding the Cherries through another impressive campaign. Despite losing several key players, Iraola has kept Bournemouth pushing for Europe with his high-intensity style and standout results.
AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been recognised for another remarkable season on the south coast after being nominated for the Premier League’s Barclays Manager of the Season award.
Iraola joins an impressive shortlist alongside Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, Michael Carrick, Keith Andrews and Régis Le Bris, with supporters able to vote for the winner before the deadline on Monday 18 May.
The nomination caps off another outstanding campaign for the Spaniard, who has once again exceeded expectations at AFC Bournemouth despite overseeing a significant squad rebuild. Following the departures of several key players over the past year, many expected the Cherries to struggle, yet Iraola has kept the club firmly in contention for European qualification while maintaining the fearless identity that has become synonymous with his side.
Bournemouth lost a number of influential stars, including January departure Antoine Semenyo, who secured a club-record £62 million move to Manchester City after a sensational first half of the season. Summer exits also saw Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Dango Ouattara move on, leaving Iraola with the challenge of rebuilding the spine of the team.
Despite those setbacks, the Cherries remained highly competitive throughout the campaign. A difficult spell briefly dragged them down the table as far as 15th, but Iraola steadied the side impressively, leading Bournemouth on a lengthy unbeaten run that included statement victories against some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool.
REUTERS/Ian WaltonMuch of Bournemouth’s success under Iraola has come from the clear tactical identity he has implemented since arriving at the club in 2023. His high-intensity pressing system, aggressive transitional play and proactive approach have transformed Bournemouth into one of the division’s most entertaining and difficult sides to face.
This season also showed another side to Iraola’s management. While Bournemouth retained their energetic style, there was a noticeable balance to the team’s approach, with the manager appearing to adapt the intensity levels in order to better manage injuries and player fatigue - issues that had previously hampered the squad in the latter stages of previous campaigns.
New signings like Rayan and emerging players have continued to thrive under his guidance, with Iraola once again proving his ability to improve individuals while keeping Bournemouth competitive against clubs with far greater resources.
Although the Manager of the Season award often gravitates towards the coach who lifts the Premier League trophy, Iraola’s inclusion on the shortlist is a major recognition of the work he has done at Bournemouth. After reshaping the squad, preserving the club’s identity and pushing the Cherries towards a potential European place, the Spaniard’s nomination underlines just how impressive his tenure at Dean Court has been.
Fans can vote on this over on the Premier League website.