Andoni Iraola

This tactical analysis of Brighton vs Bournemouth in the Premier League 2025/2026 examines a clash of contrasting game models at the Amex Stadium. Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton dominated possession and territory for large periods, while Andoni Iraola's side combined aggressive first-half pressing with a deep second-half low block in an attempt...

The Premier League is in its busy winter phase, which is often one of the most decisive periods of the season. On Wednesday, two struggling teams trying to salvage their seasons met, with AFC Bournemouth hosting Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 21. Both teams have struggled over the last couple of...

Manchester United faced AFC Bournemouth in Gameweek 16 of the 2025/2026 Premier League campaign, and it was one of the most entertaining games of the season, ending in a 4-4 draw. It was, however, not so entertaining for both teams’ players and managers, especially for Manchester United, who were winning...

The 2025/2026 Premier League season has already begun to reveal significant differences between teams in how effectively they convert shooting opportunities into goals. While league standings often reflect overall performance, examining shot quality, expected goals (xG), and finishing efficiency provides a deeper understanding of whether a team is genuinely performing...

After 11 weeks of the 2025/2026 Premier League season, Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola find themselves just one point off the top four, an achievement few would have predicted at the start of the campaign. The Cherries have quietly evolved into one of the league’s most intriguing sides, combining intensity, structure,...

Aston Villa hosted Bournemouth for Gameweek 11 of the Premier League, and the game ended with a huge 4-0 win for the hosts against one of the in-form teams to start the season. This win saw the Villans climb to sixth, with 18 points, equal to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United,...

Marcos Senesi (185cm/6’1”, 80kg/176lbs) has been one of the big winners of 2025/2026 thus far, with the current campaign looking likely to end up being Senesi’s most impactful season for AFC Bournemouth since his first in the Premier League. Senesi has been with the Cherries since the summer of 2022,...

Bournemouth have been one of the major positives to begin the 2025/2026 Premier League season. They are currently in fourth place with 10 points.  Since the 4-2 loss on the opening day to Liverpool, the Cherries have allowed only one goal in their last four Premier League matches.  Not only...

The opening three gameweeks of the Premier League delivered some fascinating fixtures, one of which took place at St. James’ Park as Newcastle United hosted Liverpool in one of the highlights of the season so far. The reigning champions secured a hard-fought victory in the dying moments. However, the home...

AFC Bournemouth handed Tottenham Hotspur their first defeat of the 2025/2026 Premier League season on Saturday afternoon at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Cherries defeated Spurs by a goal to nil away from home, becoming the first side to score against Thomas Frank’s outfit in England’s top flight. Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth...

Following a successful treble-winning season, Paris Saint-Germain are in the market to make upgrades to their squad. The UEFA Champions League winners, who already boast a world-class group of players, will aim to enhance depth and build for the long term. From this perspective, the centre-back position is one of...

Recently, set-piece analysis has evolved rapidly as teams have begun to recognise the importance of capitalising on every detail during the game. However, there is room to develop as a field in football analysis. One of the most interesting aspects is how teams have begun to manipulate the opponent by...

Antoine Semenyo has put together a formidable season for AFC Bournemouth. In the 2024/2025 Premier League season, he has contributed nine goals and four assists in 34 games. However, his offerings go far beyond this. Semenyo has been pivotal in Andoni Iraola's system. His physical attributes allow their aggressive, high-pressing...

Liverpool will almost certainly be in next season’s UEFA Champions League mix (with only mathematics preventing that from being a definite) and look highly likely to be joined by Arsenal. However, the race to secure the final two guaranteed places (and potentially any additional spots, should England maintain its strong...

As we enter the second half of the Premier League season, one of the most exciting outfits thus far has certainly been Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side. The Cherries are currently in a lofty seventh place, having recently achieved a club-record eight-match unbeaten run at the highest level. Whilst they have...

Bournemouth have been producing outstanding performances lately, putting them in seventh place in the Premier League, just three points below Chelsea in fourth place. Given that the competition is intense and closely contested, the details may determine the outcome, and among these details, set pieces are undoubtedly crucial. Recently, Bournemouth...

Four years ago, Rayo Vallecano finished bottom of La Liga, with the side only managing to accumulate 32 points in 38 games. Two years later, the side would fight their way back into La Liga under Andoni Iraola, who would go on to guide the side to successive mid-table finishes. ...

In 2015, Andoni Iraola decided to leave Athletic Club Bilbao after a 15-year stay. Commonly a right back, he was an outstanding player for his dedication, maturity, effort in each match, and passion for his shirt. Under the guidance of various coaches, including Marcelo Bielsa and Ernesto Valverde, Iraola decided to become a manager in the...

It is no secret that Barcelona have had their issues off the pitch in recent years – many of those troubles remain to this day. Financial issues, deferred wages, uncertainty around registering new signings – the list goes on. It is incredibly sad to see this happen to one of...

Saturday night saw Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano in the opening round of La Liga matches. We've broken down all the key stats for you to digest in this tactical analysis and provide insights around; * shot maps * pass flow * heatmaps * defensive actions * average positions and much more!...