Andoni Iraola is a name that has been doing the rounds of the Chelsea rumour mill for several days now. And considering the number of reliable sources that have reported on it, it is safe to say that the interest from the Blues is genuine. At the very least, the Spanish manager is being monitored by the club as they seek their next head coach.
Iraola is going to be a free agent this summer. Bournemouth have already announced his impending departure. The Cherries have also agreed a deal with Marco Rose to replace him for next season.
On the other hand, Chelsea have Calum McFarlane as interim manager until the summer. Sooner or later, they will need to make a permanent appointment though. And Iraola seems to be in the running for the job.
Understandably so, as he has Premier League experience, which is believed to be a priority when it comes to Chelsea’s search. Also, the Spaniard becoming a free agent will help the Blues further. That being said, bringing in Iraola won’t be straightforward. And it looks like there is on one condition that will need to be met.
Andoni Iraola stance on move to Chelsea
According to Sebastien Vidal, Iraola is giving himself time for reflection. He will soon study all the options available to him. Staying in the Premier League wouldn’t displease him. But Chelsea will have to present him with a project far more structured than the current one. The Spaniard has, to this day, given no priority to his agent.
Obviously, there are doubts over BlueCo’s structure and whether any manager can succeed within this model. It looks like managers are starting to recognise that as well and will want reassurances before making any commitment.
Convincing a top manager is going to be very difficult for Chelsea. Truth be told, Iraola is not in that category yet. But as it turns out, the Spaniard will seek changes to the current project as well.
Is Iraola the right man for the job?
With all the noise growing around Iraola over the past few days, it looks like he is one of the frontrunners at the very least. Now, let’s see where things go from here.
Of course, there are pros and cons to any appointment. Chelsea are not in a position where they can bring in an elite manager who will almost guarantee success. Pretty much nobody will with his squad.
That being said, there are doubts over how Iraola’s style of football will suit the current squad. At the same time, is the majority of his success down to Bournemouth’s model rather than his own brilliance? Do not forget, Graham Potter did a great job at Brighton as well but has not reached those heights since leaving. On the other hand, his departure has not had much of an effect on the Seagulls.
