After qualifying for Europe with Bournemouth, AC Milan have taken an interest in Andoni Iraola to be their next head coach.
Changes are rife at Milan and it seems the club are looking to hire a new manager in a very short space of time. Indeed, Massimiliano Allegri was sacked earlier today and the attention has immediately turned to his replacement.
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Iraola linked to Milan
According to talkSPORT transfer expert Alex Crooks, the Rossoneri have joined the list of clubs interested in former Bournemouth manager Iraola. The Spaniard qualified for the Europa League, alongside the Diavolo, with the Cherries, despite a substantial reshuffling last summer.
More than capable of making the step up, Iraola sought a different environment and a chance to rebuild one of Europe’s biggest clubs could catch his eye.
It seems they aren’t waiting around too, with Sky Sports (via Milan Posts) reporting that an approach has already been made to make him next season’s head coach.
The news has also been confirmed by Alessandro Jacobone, who reports that the move was proposed to the Diavolo by an intermediary. Considering he is also a client of Jorge Mendes, things could progress quickly with relations already strong.
Jacobone also suggests that there is interest in Marco Silva, who is also available this summer after leaving Fulham. However, the links to the Spaniard appear to be much stronger at this moment.
I mean he has been very impressive at Bournmouth, but I dont know, never coached a big team, and never played or coached in Italy, worried that he could be another conceicao
he is another Fonseca
Allegri coached 2 big clubs and this was the worst season of my life so….
Yep – anyone’s going to be a gamble at this point. Especially with this current squad..
Iraola is a brillant manager.if we got him yes please.sick to the teeth of italian managers
He is brilliant only if the management gets behind him. Otherwise he’ll be another flop just with a different face.
Neither did Fabregas so…..
Milan aren’t a big team anymore. We’re a story of a team in freefall
That’s your own view
i mean fabregas did it. it’s not impossible, conceicao wasn’t bad. he was tossed into a tornado and expected to perform and survive. at least he won us silverware still amongst the chaos. had the team attacking.
One thing Bournmouth has that we don’t is an absolutely amazing scouting team.
They sell their best players and don’t miss a beat the next season.
If he has that here, watch out Seria A.
Arteta also never coached a big team. Arsenal was his first head coaching job.
It also took arteta 6 years and var help to win his 1st chamionship
Anyone that actually watches Bournemouth play, who is this guy, what kind of football his teams play?
Not being Italian is already a plus.
Facts
He is an amazing coach for sure. If hired, we just need to be patient with him and not rush to crucify him if things don’t start out well. He’s a very tactically sound coach which is something we need. He also works very well with young players and brings out the best in his squad. I 100% agree with this hire if it works out.
A bit different from what you’ll expect from a Spanish coach, when with the ball. His team right from Rayo vallecano are comfortable off the ball, full of intensity in press and full backs play important role in the way he attacks (He’d love Bartesaghi). Although he’d need a bit of time and financial backing to properly get going. I’m afraid some names in the squad won’t fit, I mean big names.
I have watched plenty of Bournemouth games. 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with man marketing, high press, fast attacking (often counter attacks after winning the ball high up the pitch), vertical passing over horizontal, lots of combination plays up top, wingbacks that comes flying non stop. Hes very influenced by Bielsa.
Here is a decent summary of his tactics-
https://youtu.be/fcnu6Nv_RXY?si=ID0pFpH02aWyv_5j
Imagine the opposite of Milan under Allegri
Bielsaaaaa…..he is the coach who is from old time but has never stuck to old time. I wish we had Bielsa. Even Guardiola is inspired from Bielsa. I really love Marcelo Bielsa. Problem is….his high intensity means, 2nd half of season or last 10 games becomes very dreadful as teams become tired due to high intensity….Such teams need good rotation…so that none of the players are over worked. But one thing is certain, if we get a young coach, we need to give them time. Iraola is good but will he get time. Maybe next season we might not get Champions League too…Como getting it was a chance ..not a sureity. Last day chance because Milan failed. So Iraola would also need time and of course budget and money to buy players of his choice. He will get players who will run 90 minutes.
I’ll settle for that. If they hire him patience is key. Also need a bunch of players at this point to.
He was excellent at Bournemouth but honestly whatever the risk. Im willing to bet without that rat Furlani any new coach has a better chance of succeeding. Furlani was clearly a poison on the entire club.
Now… given Allegri failed top 4, I think whichever young coach we actually give them time to implement their ideas. And if that takes 2 seasons so be it.
Agree
Perfect
Z this guy is copy of klopp he plays exactly the same
A young manager like him will do just fine, but needs to be fully backed with young, talented and energetic players. Especially at full back. All in all, a young manager should be hired, in my opinion.
Both Marco Silva and Iraola are VERY welcome developments. They’re both very good managers. All we need with them would be patience honestly. I hope we have that patience.
I don’t think Marco Silva is the guy. I prefer a younger one in Iraola, Cuesta(if ready to step up) or Bologna head coach (can’t remember his name). Promising young coach would be great.
Marco Silva is too conservative. The football his teams play is basic. He was terrible at Hull, Watford and especially at Everton. He’s done okay at Fulham. His teams start the season well then tank.
Furlani, Allegri, Moncada out and Iraola in would be better than a night with Olivia DeJonge…
Yeah both are great
Yes they scouted well ardoni iraola is a wonderful Coach he can get it done but Acmilan should bring an experienced midfielder like Bennercer back then we need attacking midfielders like schedrup of Benfica and Brahimi Diaz of reakmadrid then we need a solid striker and a left and right winger the one central defender. All will be fine
Iraiola would be a great start.
Foseca 2 loading, it’s getting funnier with each passing hour. Best comedy in the world.
Who would you suggest?
Honestly, I don’t give a sh*t anymore, whoever comes will be doomed to fail, because of the clown show above him.
Not asked but i join to say my 2 cents 🙂
I am all in for Conte, if they let him do the transfers i am sure he will do well and win us the title.
Hiring a young manager who can work with limited resources and develop existing young players is what we need. We don’t have money to satisfy experienced coaches with their transfer plans. And we have a deeply demotivated team that will not become stronger this summer.
All we can do is hire a ‘dark horse’, let him work without pressuring with unrealistic expectations, provide support, and hope for better.
Guardiola is free agent as well. He publicly stated he wants to coach an Italian team. Perfect timing. To be big you have to think big.
He will get us there for sure, and we can skip some dead weights, give him an English manager post and pay the guy
Guardiola already has a job. He would do the same thing with City Group that Klopp is doing at Red Bull.
Plus he and zlatan hate each other.
How about hire a sporting director 1st and then let him hire a coach
The sporting director decides nothing within this ridiculous structure. The coach decided by Zlatan and Furlani (who will now be replaced by Furlani 2). The more incompetent you are in football terms, the better chances you will have at getting higher in the club pyramid.
You have no understanding of how things work. Stop embarrassing yourself.
the thing is he coaches 4-2-3-1… our old system
for that line-up we would need main RB, sub LB, CBs that fit 2 men backline, regista (sorry but Jashari is not n6; heck maybe Comotto?), LW, ST at least 2 if Camarda is not brought back. I would also say… use our 2nd squad and younger players for Coppa Italia and Europa League.
but our defense will be in shambles again. Gabbia, DeWinter are keepers; while Pavlovic is a question mark in back 3. he could work as LB?
return Camarda and Comotto; bring Lucumi and Gila for CB. RB, LW and ST will be hard if we want quality
You’re answering your own question. This is clearly a revolutionary summer. We need quality and players who will play for the the shirt. If we bring in a high press coach we’ll need players who work. Leao is not one of them. Then Pavlovic probably won’t fit a 4 back system. So, they’ll probably both be gone. So that’s 100M right there to help with the rebuild.
I would love a Brahim Diaz comeback and another winger Paixao/Nusa in Leao’s place.
Pavlovic is just sad, Iraola did use CB like Hill as RB all the time. Pavlo is more aggressive in attack and faster than Bartesaghi, it might work. If not, Lucumi, Gila have their contracts until 2027.
I don’t mind this option, I think he is exactly what this team need. He is the opposite to Allegri.
Exactly, he is unsuccessful.
Not sure what that is suppose to mean. Realistically he have done a great job with the resources available to him. He is young and he is a coach who actually instruct players what to do which is the polar opposite to Allegri. Who have lost with the most resources for 10 years straight
first time his club to ever play in Europe…. nooo that’s not a success, same with Cesc although lost a lot of respect for his behavior vs Alexis against Como…
Choosing a coach before choosing a Sporting Director makes no sense to me. If we don’t get the coach the type of players he needs to play his type of football then what’s the point?
Milan should move heaven and earth for Farioli. His team is balanced in defense and attack. Italiano teams concedes too many goals playing a high line.
Italiano teams concedes too many goals playing a high line.
depending and the quality of the players and team he manage
Great coach
A shame Mr Cardinale didn’t sack himself….
🤭
😄
There is an agreement with Liverpool already according to rumours.
CORRECT 100% Liverpool will be making a statement this week 3 year deal sky sports uk.
As long as Cardinale and his lapdog, Ibra are around, Milan won’t amount to anything. The slide will continue. Some players will obviously leave, either from contracts running out and a refusal to renew. Question who replaces them? We are in the social media age. People can see that all is not well at Milan. Who’s going to want to come when the atmosphere is toxic?
Ibrahimovic hasn’t been around for most of the season, the same goes for Cardinale. There is no interference in how the coach works.
Dude just got done out coaching Pep. I would take him all day long. Of course we don’t have the players for his type of play. He plays with two sturdy defensive mids. In front of two sturdy center backs. Two attack minded fullbacks. a true 10. And everybody runs their asses off. Fits Pulisic, maybe Nnkunku, Rabiot, Modric (if he played the 10). Maybe Gabbia.
Move heaven and earth for Fabregas,, give him a five year contract to show commitment and build the team around hungry top talent. Steal the Como DS too, or Atalanta’s.
He’s not going to leave a club with deep pockets, he’s going nowhere anytime soon.
Dreaming is free. 100% he’s not leaving a CL club for a dumpster fire.
Fantastic manager so far. There are no guarantees when someone moves to a club that expects success but that’s true if you’ve managed at the top already. Plus, hiring the right manager now is increasingly becoming just rolling a dice on whether the stars will align. With Iraola they very well could.
He won’t be short of offers so need to get it done.
What if Pep Guardiola coached AC Milan ?
Dreamer…. we can’t get pep the players he request for
Simone Inzaghi in my mind to replace Allegri
You want to replace Allegri with another Allegri ? Same 3-5-2, same gameplay ?
How are you comparing the football Inzaghi plays with the football Allegri plays?!?!
Iraola is a talented coach but the success of Bournemouth comes from their scouting department.
Would be amazing if it happened, but I don’t see why he would sign up with us rather than take his choice of jobs in Europe.
That’s because you have no understand of what Milan meant when Iraola was growing up. We’re talking about a coach in his 40s, not in his 20s.
Andoni Iraola isn’t a coach “ready-made” for immediate titles he’s an “identity architect.”
His appointment signifies that Milan management has decided to completely abandon Allegri legacy and embrace a “modern project” based on Gegenpressing. The statistics demonstrate his ability to unleash the potential of mid-table teams, but his success with Milan hinges on:
Restructuring and adjusting the roles of some star players (especially Leão).
The management’s acceptance of a period of inconsistent results during the first four months to allow the team to adapt to the demanding physical system.
If the management is aiming for an immediate title in 2027, Iraola represents a 50% tactical risk. However, if the goal is to build a young, attacking team for the future, he is the most suitable option currently available.
Iraola is a “modern, rational, and cool-headed” coach.
His behavioral strength lies in his emotional stability during crises and his ability to protect his players. His potential weakness is his inflexibility with stars who refuse to conform to his demanding system.
His behavioral success at Milan will depend on his “first 100 days.” If he can convince the old guard and the big stars of his ideas without a bloody confrontation, he will create a highly professional and healthy working environment at Milan.
For AC Milan management, signing a coach like Iraola on a salary between €3.5 and €4.5 million is an excellent deal financially, compared to hiring “top-tier” coaches who demand astronomical salaries exceeding €7 or €8 million (like Antonio Conte or Jürgen Klopp).
His lack of demands for exorbitant transfer fees stems from the fact that Iraola, as a coach, has never managed wealthy clubs. Therefore, his economic approach is flexible. He doesn’t pressure the management to request players worth €100 million, but rather focuses on developing the existing players and revitalizing injured ones (like Bennacer). He has a proven track record of reshaping players’ careers and injecting new blood into them, provided they possess “grinta” (fighting spirit) and tactical intelligence, two qualities abundantly present in Ismaël Bennacer.
This aligns perfectly with AC Milan policy of preferring to acquire young players at low prices and develop them. Iraola doesn’t come alone he insists on bringing a complete physical and medical staff (comprising 5 to 6 people) to implement his aggressive approach. This raises the total cost of the training package to Milan’s coffers to approximately €7-8 million annually (including taxes and assistant coaches’ salaries). Should the coach fail to adapt to the pressures at Milan and underperform in the first half of the season, dismissing him on a three year contract would mean Milan would be obligated to pay a substantial severance package or continue paying his salary while he remains at home.