Andoni Iraola almost did too well for his own good at Bournemouth. As Liverpool stuttered and stalled towards the end of Arne Slot’s reign, they were nearly caught by the rising force on the south coast. Bournemouth finished the season unbeaten in 18 league games. Had the campaign been a couple of weeks longer, they may have overtaken the team in fifth. And as that side was Liverpool, maybe Iraola would have cost himself the chance to manage in the Champions League.
Instead, they held on, three points ahead of Bournemouth. The Cherries’ first foray abroad for a competitive game came this week in the Europa League, in Iraola’s native Basque country, to beat Real Sociedad. It may have been particularly special for a former Athletic Bilbao captain, but long before Bournemouth came sixth Iraola informed them that he would not renew his contract. They had a successor lined up before Liverpool sacked Slot and anointed him as their next head coach.
