Iraola rise ‘was only matter of time’

ANDONI IRAOLA took almost three months to earn his first Premier League victory as Bournemouth coach – his first employers had no such patience. In his first managerial role, with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, one win in nine during a barren six-week crisis got him the chop in January 2019. Yet despite the desperate quest for results the fledgling coach refused to ditch his footballing vision. “He didn’t change too much,” recalled former Larnaca midfielder Vincent Laban. “He always kept calm and my one clear memory is that he trusts himself and his knowledge of football. He had real conviction when sharing ideas. “Andoni is a typical Spanish coach. He likes to play with the ball and he takes a lot of time to explain and develop the brain of his players. It was not only about the physical side of the game – it’s about tactics and intelligence with and without the ball.”

Things had started so well for Iraola (left) at Larnaca as they qualified for the Europa League group stages before defeating rivals APOEL on penalties in the Cypriot Super Cup final.

But the club’s promising form nose-dived and Iraola’s strong personal relationship with his players was not translating into points.

Laban added: “He’s a very good person, very respectful, humorous and it’s also funny because on the bench he was electric. He was incredibly passionate.

“To be honest, he was not like that on the training pitch at all. He was a very levelheaded guy but during matches it was so different. He’s not the kind of coach who will shout before the game, maybe at halftime it’s different but he’s very relaxed and trying to speak about football.

“He was a gentleman and that’s not always been the case with other coaches I’ve worked with during my career.”

Iraola’s charm is now beginning to rub off on the free-flowing Cherries in a drastic turnaround given that he was forced to address questions over his future in October after a 2-1 home defeat by Wolves.

Even Laban has been taken aback by his former coach’s progress. The 39-year-old declared: “It has surprised me because from Cyprus it’s another step to have success in both Spain and England.

“It’s always good to be patient. He showed he has qualities and abilities. It was only a matter of time.”

Despite Cyprus sack he trusted himself and his knowledge