Football Daily Andoni Iraola - The Football Interview
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Sep 27, 2025 
Andoni Iraola, AFC Bournemouth's head coach and former Athletic Club player, shares his journey from the Basque region to coaching in England. He reminisces about playing football with childhood friends Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso and the formative impact of managers like Marcelo Bielsa. Iraola discusses balancing family life with the demands of coaching, the lessons learned from his time in the USA, and his love for spontaneous family adventures. His ultimate ambition? Ensuring a stable and fulfilling life for his children beyond football.
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Childhood Teammates Became Managers
- As a child he played with Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso in local schools and clubs.
- He finds it remarkable they now meet again decades later as managers on big stages.
Multiple Coaches Shaped His Vision
- Several coaches shaped Iraola: Ernesto Valverde gave early chances, Marcelo Bielsa changed his tactical view, and Carlo Ancelotti represents managerial excellence he admires.
- These varied influences informed his transition into management and his style.
US Spell Changed Tactical Outlook
- His time in the United States reshaped his tactical thinking by exposing him to positional play from a City-influenced coach.
- That late-career experience helped prepare him for management.