AFC Bournemouth parts ways with Gary O’Neil. The Englishman kept his team in the Premier League last season, but the club management has decided to take another trainer with a view to next season.
Bournemouth throws out trainer despite enforcement
In total, Bournemouth was led by O’Neil for 37 games last season. He took over from Scott Parker as interim coach at the end of August. The forty-year-old coach performed a lot better than his predecessor and was officially appointed head coach in November. O’Neil played safe with Bournemouth four games before the end, but nevertheless has to leave. He still had a contract until mid-2024.
“Gary’s performance last season is one for which I will always be grateful,” AFC Bournemouth owner and chairman Bill Foley told club channels. “This has been a difficult decision, but we have thought carefully about how to position ourselves for the coming season. Gary will have a long career as a head coach or manager, but we believe that a change is in the interest of this football club at this time.”
Foley indicates that Bournemouth is in for a busy summer. “A number of important upgrades to the stadium and training facilities are planned. We have also set some important goals in the transfer market this summer and believe this change gives us the best footing.”
Bournemouth act fast and complete Basque Premier League quartet
Andoni Iraola is the new coach of AFC Bournemouth. The Spaniard signs for two years with the Premier League club, he comes over from Rayo Vallecano.
The news caused some consternation, as it is widely believed that O’Neil did a great job at Vitality Stadium in saving the Reds from relegation.
After only a few hours it is clear what they were planning. With Iraola, Bournemouth brings in a trainer who has made a name for himself in recent years. Rayo was promoted under his leadership. And in the following two seasons, the Vallecas team finished twice in the middle bracket. In 2022, the cup adventure only ended on the threshold of the final. As Iraola did not renew his expiring contract, he was free to leave.
The Premier League continues with a remarkable trend: Basque trainers. Iraola is already the fourth from the northern Spanish region to now have final responsibility at a club in the English top league: he joins Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Unai Emery (Aston Villa) and Julen Lopetegui (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
