Iraola Emerges as Top Target for Both Manchester City and Manchester United
manchester, UK – Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has rapidly become a prime candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, while simultaneously topping the list of potential replacements for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, according to reports. The growing interest in the 43-year-old Spaniard sets the stage for a potential bidding war between the two premier League giants.
Iraola’s notable work at Bournemouth has caught the attention of the INEOS hierarchy at Manchester United, who are reportedly seeking alternatives to Ten Hag following a recent string of poor results, including a dominant defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad. Despite pressure from ex-players urging a system change, Ten Hag has remained resolute in his approach, though The Self-reliant’s Miguel Delaney reports the club is actively exploring other options.
City views Iraola as the ideal long-term successor to Guardiola, particularly should the current City boss decide to step down. He was previously considered as a potential replacement for Guardiola, but his current tenure at Manchester United has reportedly diminished that prospect.
While Iraola’s tactical style shares similarities with Ten Hag, analysts note he demonstrates greater flexibility and willingness to adapt – a quality currently lacking with the Dutch manager. “Manchester United…like Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola,” Delaney wrote, adding a cautionary note, ”If they appointed him, however, you’d be returning to the same problem…appointing a manager for who he is rather than what his ideology is.” He highlighted Iraola’s adaptability at Bournemouth, successfully integrating new players into his system.
INEOS’s approach to squad building, attempting to mold players to fit a manager’s system rather than establishing a solid foundation frist, has drawn criticism, mirroring past mistakes under the Glazer ownership. Ten hag’s position appears increasingly precarious, with United’s next match against Chelsea presenting another significant challenge.
