Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola marked a significant milestone in his managerial career as he reached his 100th Premier League game with AFC Bournemouth. With a winning percentage of just over 35%, Iraola has established himself as the Cherries’ most successful manager in the Premier League era. He has secured 35 wins, suffered 35 losses, and drawn 29 matches, averaging 1.35 points per game.
Andoni Iraola said: “I think for us is to win the same games that you lost and some draws there in between and this I think is good. You have to be very good. I always tell you, we hear a lot, you have to win a lot of games to stay in this league!”
Iraola continued: “It was good to know at the end it’s 100 games in the Premier League, it’s almost three seasons or two seasons and a half and a little bit more and very happy, very happy. I hope we can play more. But this you have to earn week to week. As a manager you have to earn week to week. But the important thing is to try to win it.”
Reflecting on his journey, Iraola added: “Definitely I have more experience. I understand better the league than I did in that moment, but probably the emotion is still there. Probably when you arrive, probably you are not conscious of everything that was going around the Premier League and the challenge of your job. I think you have to be very good to win one Premier League game. I still think it. And this hasn’t changed.”
He concluded: “It has gone quick for me. At the end, we are in this business and time flies and it doesn’t look so far. No, but it’s 100 games. I think we have the same wins and losses. Something like this. It’s not a disaster for us. And let’s try to balance positively this 100th game and finish with one more win.”
Iraola’s tenure at Bournemouth has been marked by consistent performances and a steady hand at the helm. Despite the challenges of the Premier League, he has managed to keep the team competitive, emphasizing the importance of week-to-week improvement and the need to earn every victory. His reflections on the journey highlight the learning curve and the emotional investment required to succeed in one of the world’s most demanding football leagues. As he looks forward to more games, Iraola remains committed to maintaining the balance between wins and losses, aiming to tip the scales positively in the future.
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