Bournemouth appoint Andoni Iraola as new manager following Gary O'Neil sacking

Bournemouth have moved quickly to name Andoni Iraola as their new manager following the sudden departure of Gary O'Neil.

The Cherries caught many by surprise when they announced O'Neil's exit on Monday despite the 40-year-old guiding Bournemouth to top-flight safety by finishing 15th last season, three places and five points clear of the relegation zone.

But within hours, a further announcement was made to say that former Rayo Vallecano coach Iraola would be taking over at Vitality Stadium after the Spaniard agreed a two-year deal.

He earned promotion to La Liga in his first season with the Madrid club in 2020/21, before taking the team to the Copa del Rey semi-finals in the following campaign.

“We're so excited to welcome Andoni to the club,” Bournemouth owner and chairman Bill Foley said in a statement. “With his contract in Spain coming to an end this summer we wanted to act quickly.

“He was highly sought-after by other clubs across the continent, and his style of play has been an important factor in making this decision. His achievements in Spain have certainly been very impressive, and we're confident that he is the right man to lead our next chapter.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Andoni Iraola as the club's new head coach.Welcome to #afcb, Andoni