Bournemouth announce Andoni Iraola as their new boss on a two-year deal after sacking Gary O’Neil 

Bournemouth have appointed Andoni Iraola as their new manager – just hours after sacking Gary O’Neil – with the former Rayo Vallecano boss signing a new two-year deal at the Vitality Stadium. 

The Cherries announced the shock news O’Neil was set to leave his post, despite leading the club to an unlikely survival in the top flight last season – finishing in 15th place – and Andoni will now look to build on that position. 

He arrives at Bournemouth after his contract came to an end with LaLiga side Rayo, where he spent three years, and club chief Bill Foley said they acted quickly to get him on board.

‘We’re so excited to welcome Andoni to the club,’ AFC Bournemouth owner and chairman Bill Foley said. ‘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.

Bournemouth have announced Andoni Iraola (L) as their new manager on a two-year deal – just hours after sacking Gary O’Neil (R)

He comes to the Vitality Stadium after guiding Rayo Vallecano to 11th place in LaLiga

Bournemouth endured a tough season but managed to finish 15th against the odds  

‘We have identified a number of targets in the transfer market, which along with our January additions will supplement our strong playing squad to give Andoni the best chance to consolidate our Premier League status and keep progressing.’

The new boss will begin working with the squad when they return for pre-season in July before the team jet off to Marbella for a training camp. His first game will be against Hibernian on the July 13 before facing Maccabi Tel Aviv on July 16.

Bournemouth will then play Atalanta and FC Lorient before his first Premier League clash against West Ham at the Vitality to open the season.

Iraola had a successful career as a player – starting his career with boyhood side Athletic Bilbao and playing most of his life as a footballer there as he made 510 appearances – scoring 38 times.

The Cherries said they were quick to appoint Iraola after his impressive work at Rayo 

Owner Bill Foley has grand plans for Bournemouth and wants to get them up the table

He never won a trophy with Bilbao but finished as runner up in the Copa del Rey on three occasions in 2008-09, 2011-12 and 2014-15. He also finished as runner up in the Europa League in 2011-12.

It comes just hours after the Cherries brutally sacked O’Neil, who discovered he was being let go on Monday morning.

A club statement said: ‘We can today confirm we have parted company with head coach Gary O’Neil.

‘Gary leaves the club after overseeing 37 matches last season, initially on an interim basis before being formally appointed to his first head coaching role in November.

‘A return of 10 wins and six draws in the Premier League was enough to maintain the club’s position in the top flight, effectively securing survival with four matches remaining following a memorable run of results in April.’

Owner Foley, whose consortium completed a takeover from Russian businessman Maxim Demin last year, added: ‘Gary’s achievement last season is one I will always be grateful for. This has been a difficult decision, but it has been made with great consideration to best position ourselves ahead of the coming season.

O’Neil is thought to have been focused on planning for next season before the shock axing

‘As a club, we have put plans in place for long-term success with improvements being made to infrastructure, most notably the development of a new state-of-the-art training facility and the ongoing discussions around upgrades to our stadium.

‘We have also identified a number of significant targets in the transfer market this summer and believe this change in direction will provide us with the best platform from which to build.

‘Gary will go on to have a long career as a head coach or manager, but we feel that, at this moment in time, a change is in the best interests of this football club. I would like to place on record my thanks to Gary and wish him all the best for the future.’

It is understood the surprise move has been taken in light of Foley’s grand ambitions to lead the club up the Premier League table.

O’Neil is thought to have been focused on next season before his axing and Bournemouth are active in the market, having struck up talks over several targets.