BREAKING NEWS: “I’m a Man United legend but I will suggest they sack Carrick and hire him immediately else, Pep Guardiola will continue dominating the league”: Jose Mourinho urges Man United to replace Carrick with a world-class manager if they want to finish this season in the champions league spot
Jose Mourinho doesn’t want Manchester City to keep dominating the premier league every season, and he has advised Man United to employ the only manager who could make it happen this season.
Manchester United will face a tough task in trying to tempt Andoni Iraola to become their next long-term manager this summer, even though he is poised to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season.
Iraola’s future has been the subject of much speculation in recent months, with his current contract due to expire in June. His success with Bournemouth has made him a target for clubs higher up the food chain, including United, who will appoint a manager in the summer.
The Spaniard has also been linked with Crystal Palace, who will lose Oliver Glasner in the summer, and Athletic Club, who need to find a successor to Ernesto Valverde, who recently announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
It has now been announced that talks to extend Iraola’s stay at Bournemouth have been unsuccessful and that he will leave at the end of the 2025/26 campaign. “It has been an honour to manage AFC Bournemouth and I am proud of what we have achieved together,” Iraola said in a statement.
“I’m thankful to the players and staff that I’ve worked with, as well as [chairman] Bill (Foley), who have all made my time here so special. As for the fans, you have continued to show your fantastic support to myself and the team, and for that I will always be grateful. I feel this is the right moment for me to step away, but I will always carry fantastic memories of this club.”
After leading the Cherries to ninth and 12-place finishes in his first two seasons, he has them 11th and unbeaten in 12 games following their stunning 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday. But despite his reputation being sky-high in the Premier League, Iraola appears to have his heart set on a return to Spain. BBC Sport reports that the 43-year-old is keen to return to his home country with his family, with a move to Athletic Club appearing the most likely option.
Iraola spent 12 years playing for the team as a player and has a strong connection with the Basque club, where he made over 400 appearances. He is considered a legend at Athletic Club, who are 11th in La Liga, and United are very unlikely to be able to compete.
United have Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season but are still to confirm their long-term successor to Ruben Amorim, who was sacked in January. Director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada have been content to move slowly in making the decision, with United sat third in the Premier League and on course to qualify for the Champions League.
“Andoni has been instrumental in shaping the direction of this football club over the past three seasons,” Bournemouth chairman Foley said. “He brought intensity, innovation, and a clear philosophy that elevated AFC Bournemouth both on and off the pitch. We are incredibly thankful for his leadership and will always have great memories of our time working together, as well as the things we accomplished.”
Bournemouth were understood to have been trying to strike an agreement over a new deal for the past 15 months but the Spaniard is set for a new spell of his career. Bournemouth have six games remaining this season, starting with a trip to Newcastle on Saturday.
