New Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola has built a solid reputation following a strong showing in LaLiga, but his decision to move into coaching stemmed from a stint as a player for New York City.
The 41-year-old departed Rayo Vallecano after a successful three years in Madrid, where he led the club to promotion to the Spanish top flight, before masterminding their first run to the semi finals of the Copa Del Rey for a first time in four decades. A perennial yo-yo outfit until the Basque coach's arrival, he was able to stabilise the club in mid-table with 12th and 11th place finishes in the league.
After performing with distinction in his first ever role as a coach in one of Europe's top five leagues, it was probably only a matter of time before Iraola was eventually poached from Rayo's grasps. In the end, Premier League club Bournemouth were able to secure the former Athletic Club star's services after his contract expired in the Spanish capital.
Although the talented coach had a burgeoning reputation as a result of his work in his homeland, his appointment at the South Coast club did come as something of a surprise. The sacking of Gary O'Neil caught many off guard, especially after the 40-year-old had defied the odds to steer the Cherries to safety last term - even being tipped for the Manager of the Year award due to his exploits.
However, new owners Bill Foley and his partners removed the former West Ham player from his post in a bid to find "a new identity and style of play" under Iraola, who signed a two-year deal with the club. The seven-time Spanish international is certainly a cultured pick, with his playing days under coaches such as Vicente del Bosque, Marcelo Bielsa and Patrick Viera helping to inform his coaching style.
In addition, the upcoming managerial talent has worked abroad before, having finished off his playing career out under Vieira at New York City FC, where he played alongside legends such as Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Villa. In an interview with The Coaches Voice, Iraola explained how the experience of living in the US was one which inspired him into coaching.
He said: “To go to New York was undoubtedly the right decision. Not only because I got to know a different competition – one not as competitive as La Liga, although still a very good quality – but also because I had the opportunity to live in Manhattan. Right at the heart of the city.
"I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. It was a very different way to experience all that surrounds a football team. At Bilbao, you feel like you have a lot of responsibility because everybody – all the players, staff, everyone – is very much an Athletic fan. That was completely different in New York.
“On the pitch, it was a huge individual change for me. I didn’t have the legs to carry on as a full-back, which is the position I had played throughout my career, so I switched to playing in defensive midfield. That was Patrick’s decision.
"I had Andrea Pirlo in front of me, Frank Lampard a few metres ahead, and David Villa as a striker. Quite something, right? It was very different from what I had experienced at Athletic. He also used his experience as a midfielder to help me."
Intriguingly, the new Bournemouth head coach's methods have also been informed by his interest in the NFL, with his analysis of specific aspects of the sport also him to gain different perspectives that he has been able to bring to his own work. He added that he sees aspects of football coaching potentially following the lead set by American football in the future.
He said: "Outside of football, my interest in coaching was also there when I became more aware of the NFL, which I have been a follower of ever since. I see American football as a sort of extension of the set-pieces we have in our game. The blocking, the clearances, the overloads.
"The players are also very specialised in their roles, with a coach for each position. Soccer is not quite there yet, but it is progressing by the day. Surely, soon, we will get to see a coach for each position, just like in the NFL."
With a heavy influence from his brief stint in the United States, Iraola will bring his expertise to the Premier League next season with all eyes on if he can take Bournemouth to the next level.
