Andoni Iraola has transformed AFC Bournemouth into a formidable Premier League side, justifying the club’s bold managerial decision.
Eyebrows were raised when AFC Bournemouth decided to part ways with Gary O’Neil in the summer of 2023 to appoint Spanish manager Andoni Iraola. A few Bournemouth faithful were perplexed by the board’s decision to appoint a manager without any Premier League experience, but sixteen months into Andoni Iraola‘s career, the Spanish manager has won a lot of fans with Bournemouth, a very much improved team.
Bournemouth finished the Premier League last season (2023/2024) with a club record 48 points, surpassing Eddie Howe’s 2016/2017 46 points finish. The Cherries have picked up from where they left off last season and are currently in 6th place with 25 points, just three points behind Champions League places. They boast notable wins against elite oppositions this season, including wins over London sides Arsenal and Tottenham, plus a historic 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s Man City. Iraola’s side was able to limit Man City to 0.86 open play xG while creating 2.04 xG from open play and six big chances.
Bournemouth’s attacking revolution under Andoni Iraola
Games featuring Bournemouth have been entertaining this season, as Bournemouth has scored 24 goals from 33 xG. Although they have massively underperformed their xG, Bournemouth ranks 2nd on the xG charts in the Premier League, just behind Chelsea. Iraola has greatly altered Bournemouth’s patterns of play from a passive low block team to a more front-footed side that excels at both ends of the pitch. Bournemouth’s aggressive hybrid high pressing has been executed with great success. They rank first in the league for possession won in the opposition’s defensive third with 350 won and at an average of 6.5 per game. They’ve been extremely efficient in disrupting opposition build-up patterns, which is a strong reason why Bournemouth has won three of the seven games against teams in the top half of the table.
High pressing masterclass and tactical transitions
Despite holding less of the ball with an average of 45.2% ball possession, Bournemouth ranks 5th in the Premier League for shots on target per game, with 5.5 shots on target per game and a shot conversion rate of 8.9%. Prior to Iraola’s appointment in the 2023/2024 season, Bournemouth was ranked third from bottom for shots on target per game with a mere 3.5 shots on target per 90. Under Iraola, they have clearly been more efficient in possession, quickly turning possession into chances by moving the ball swiftly into the opposition penalty box. The Cherries have already touched the ball 469 times in the opposition penalty box this season, which is double the rate they had during Gary O’Neil’s final season.
Iraola’s side has also won the most penalties in the league this season, with 5 penalties awarded, of which 80% have been converted. Bournemouth’s relentless pressing under Iraola has been a weapon with the Spanish manager’s quality in coaching a press fully evident. But beyond the press, Bournemouth is also good at transitioning from a high press into a compact defensive block, denying the opposing teams effective space to do damage. They have conceded a total of 21 goals from 20.4 xG, better than Tottenham, Man City, Chelsea, Man United, and Brighton.
Iraola’s impact despite Solanke’s departure
For AFC Bournemouth to be punching above their weight despite losing their best player, Dominic Solanke, to Tottenham this summer highlights the wonderful job Andoni Iraola is doing. It’s also unfortunate that the Bournemouth faithful know this continued performance could see the Spaniard priced away from the club by more elite teams. Whatever happens, Bournemouth is heading in the right direction under Iraola and is justified in its decision to relieve Gary O’Neil as AFC Bournemouth’s head manager.
