The Andoni Iraola idea appears to be gathering speed, as Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto confirmed that AC Milan have held talks with him.
On Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Milan’s defeat to Cagliari saw them finish outside the top four, the axe was wielded by Gerry Cardinale. In addition to Igli Tare, Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada, Massimiliano Allegri paid the price for the collapse in results.
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Who might replace him? Iraola seems to be one of the frontrunners. In a video published on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano commented on the Milan revolution and the interest in Iraola as a replacement for Allegri. MilanNews relayed what he had to say.
“A part of Milan has collapsed after Cardinale’s heavy decisions: the farewell to Allegri and above all to a large part of the management with the departures of Furlani, Tare and Moncada. It was a strong choice by Cardinale with Ibrahimovic at his side,” he said.
“For the future of the bench, the name of Andoni Iraola has emerged. It is a name that is circulating, the Spaniard has left Bournemouth who have hired Marco Rose in his place.
“Iraola has done a fantastic job at Bournemouth, he has been one of the best coaches in England in recent seasons in terms of quality of play and also of game proposal and he has been able to withstand the impact despite the sales.
“Bournemouth have sold his most important players in every transfer window, but it has not been a problem for Iraola who has always been able to restart and rebuild, even bringing the Bournemouth in Europe. In short, he’s done an incredible job, attracting the attention of several teams.
“He was on Manchester United’s list , who then chose to continue with Carrick. He’s also highly regarded by Liverpool, who will, however, continue with Slot. He was close to joining Tottenham, but Bournemouth didn’t want to release him, and Chelsea also considered him.
“Iraola has two offers in hand, one from Bayer Leverkusen and one from Crystal Palace. Palace consider him the perfect manager to continue their pursuit of Europe, while the Germans have been courting him for weeks, but Iraola preferred to wait to see if other opportunities might arise.
Matteo Moretto spoke on the same video and added a bit more information, confirming that the Rossoneri’s admiration for the Basque-born coach goes beyond being trivial.
“There’s an important detail regarding Milan’s interest in Iraola: last week, the Rossoneri already met with the Spanish coach England. So, there’s already been a face-to-face meeting between the two parties to understand what kind of project they can potentially build together.”
Good coach but unproven at a big club. Should we go for him? Only if we have 3-5 year project and are patient with him. His done a great job at Bournemouth, he plays high pressing tactically flexible style. If he can get the squad to buy into his style + club backs him in the market then it could be a good move. Xavi is another interesting choice. He plays attractive football. I’ll add glasner of crystal palace to the mix. He has better player management skills.
It seems that’s the path ownership is taking now with Gerry wanting a coach like Fabregas. Will they give him the luxury of time, that’s another story.
Myself, I would be excited with Iraola coming in to start an actual project this time (naive me, I know) and under different, hopefully more progressive and actually skilled management.
They are clueless about the path the want to take. Without hiring a CEO and Sporting Director first these bozo choose to do the opposite and want to hire a coach first.
So what path do they want to take when it should be the Sporting Director who chooses the coach based on the players we currently have and without knowing how much changes they will have to make to the team to fit that coaches playing style? LOL. Unbelievable
I think he’s wanted by many clubs, though, so I don’t have a problem with them moving now if they want him – rather than always being beaten by other clubs to everything. He’d be my #1 choice so we don’t wind up with Motta or Italiano..
It will continue to be idiotic – lets hire a foreign coach but get an Italian SD afterwards. That will work out so well… Classic RedBrid incompetence at the forefront.
Did you forget who’s in charge? There’s no real sporting project, ever. The only project is “Sustain, work with what you have, keep your mouth shut and stay in Top4 while we sell the club”
Iraola would be a fantastic signing under any other ownership, but Cardinale and his muppet Ibra at the forefront, it’s hard to get excited about anything Milan, outside of watching paint dry.
ACM1899, you sound worse than me now. We switched roles🤣
💯 the disenchantment is progressive, real and heavy …
I’d go with Xavi Hernandez. Even at a club as big as Barcelona, he wasn’t afraid to use the youth players. And yeah he did win the league too while playing attractive football so I’d say he’s proven at a big club. Iraola doesn’t really convince as he has always managed smaller clubs and just like him, Fonseca also did nice things with smaller clubs. Xavi is the guy for me.
Sacchi, Capello, Zaccheroni, Allegri Part I, all “unproven” (to different degrees) before taking the reigns at Milan. Pioli, Fonseca, Conceicao, Allegri II, all “proven”. There is always going to be an element of a coin toss, so might as well evaluate on things like football philosophy and RELATIVE accomplishment. Fabregas got Como, a club that two seasons ago was in Serie B to the CL. Is Como’s squad really better than ours? I’m not sure it is. What Iraola has done a Bournmouth is impressive.
Unai Emery did more arguably, and Aston Villa didn’t spend big money. + he has managed big clubs, has that experience, won Europa League how many times? And so on.
He’s a fantastic option. Hopefully he is also intelligent enough not to come to this club …
I said last summer Milan should’ve gone for Fabregas instead of Allegri.
That ship has now sailed, but this could be a similar move. Make it happen.
Milan asked Fabregas who then turned them down. Dont forget he got an ownership stake in Como and wont be going anywhere except if maybe Barcelona comes calling.
I feel Xavi, Silva and Iraola are the choices out there if they want a “Fabregas type” of manager.
If they want an Allegri 2.0 who will demand alot of reinforcements, not get them, then rage quit, Conte is a solid choice.
I hope you don’t mean Marco Silva, he’s a classic premature ejaculation coach – sarts well then it goes limp.
Honestly, bud, the only “premature ejaculation” around here is your comments. Please, do take it the wrong way …
LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Facts!!
🤣🙌
I would suggest to employ a Psychology professor and an old Milanisti to teach the players that they need to understand that they play for this glorious team! Perhaps, before they get new players and a manager, thet should take a psycology and IQ test! Players who don’t understand that, they can’t play for Milan!
I totally agree with you about hiring a Psychology professor. My feel is that our problems have been more in the head than not having good enough players. Also all the members / directors need to be on board. those internal battle can really damage the output of the players. In the end of the day confidence says a lot in the game those days. When you play well then confidence rises and things can become so easy but also vice versa when couple of losses come then everything feels much more difficult
They played just fine when Maldini was around. These players are psychologically weaker than 20 years ago, but is it also possible that it is hard for professionals to remain professional with so much disarray, incompetence and questionable coaching? 4 season, 4 different coaches.
They had one, perhaps the best milanisti of all and look at how they managed to fumble that.
Is ACM a top destination for Iraola? I don’t think so. The club is in disarray and too many players will end up leaving. Folks, it is going to be a mess for at least two years. The best you can hope for next year is a top six finish to stay in the Europa League and starting to develop a cohesive style of play. Then the following year maybe top four. Then hopefully compete for the Scudetto the third year.
I didn’t know you had a crystal ball.
Based on who’s available iraola and Xavi are good candidates. I’m sure despite our shambles we can still beat palace & Leverkusen to iraola. Xavi has better aura. Our academy players and youngsters will have good chance of making the squad. Either option is good but as others said without selecting your sporting director you can’t select your coach or style. Unless ibra is the interim one which is why we are selecting the coach & style first which is a big gamble giving the keys to ibra to run the club!
I just have some reality testing. ACM is looking a bit tarnished these days. And it’s just an opinion based on observations. Im
Hes the ideal choice, proven to get results even when the budget is nonexistent and the bournemouth board sold literally his entire backline without his permission. He needs to be given real time though. Sell leao, tomori, and the other deadwood like fofana and estupinan, id like to keep puli potentially, but given his abysmal 2nd half of the season I wouldn’t be surprised if they just cash in on him. Gimenez should probably be sold, but only after we actually sign a striker first, not before. We really need an experienced leader in defense, someone to reign in pavlovic/gabbia just like Kjaer did in the title winning season, an experienced head that can control the backiline
You guys are always saying Sell! sell Sell! And then start complaining when the team is thin going into next season. Most of these players should be kept and add few players to the fold. A proper coach will get the best out of this team. Iraola will get the best out of Leao, Nkunku, Pulisic, Jashari, Ricci, Estupinan, Bart, Athekame, DeWinter, Fofana… etc. we don’t need to sell all our players to keep the squad thin going into next season
Iraola would be stupid to join the mess at milan when liverpool want him.
If this true, iraola would be the first milan coach born in 1980s era ever!!
Saw a few Bournemouth games this season and was quite impressed. The team was solid, well shaped. Defended well but also had clear ideas in attack. He’s new coach on his way to becoming good if the right elements are in place. The big question is if he will get those elements here at this dysfunctional club. The other question is if he can handle a big club. There are many examples of coaches not being able to make the leap (and also the opposite as well so there’s that).
But if we’re going down the route of gambling on an up and comer, he’s probably a good bet.
After all if Gerry wanted a top top coach it would mean he’s have to pay top dollar AND invest in players as a top coach would demand. And we all know he’s too cheap for that
I completely agree with you, but the real magic would be for him to transfer this club into what his club was. Can he revitalize this club psychologically? A lot of the players on our team are not very strong psychologically starting with our Portuguese golden boy. Nor do we have any leaders on this team or any strong personalities.
Not to mention what will the structure be above him? Will he be reinforced and backed?
I think its going to be bad, since it’s a gamble..
“Bournemouth have sold his most important players in every transfer window, but it has not been a problem for Iraola who has always been able to restart and rebuild, even bringing… in Europe….”
Sell.. build again, sell… and again.. and again. Repeat.. lmao this never gets boring right hahahahh