AFC Bournemouth
This afternoon, we confirmed the appointment of one of the most highly-rated young managers in Andoni Iraola but what makes the Spaniard so impressive?
The 40-year-old arrives at Vitality Stadium following an excellent spell at Rayo Vallecano, leading the side to La Liga and securing back-to-back top-12 finishes.
Impressively, Iraola achieved the success with one of the league’s smallest budgets and having implemented a high intensity, attacking style of play.
As a player, Iraola enjoyed a two-year spell under revered manager Marcelo Bielsa and has been inspired by his renowned vision of football.
Speaking to Sky Sports previously, Iraola said: "I was very lucky to play for him for two seasons as a player. I think he has another vision of football.
"I use a lot of exercises from Marcelo that I learned from him. I use a lot of things, especially with the ball. Offensively, his teams are very dynamic. He is willing to make all the runs to the space, he is ready to accept this kind of disorder, offensively."
The intensity of his play is at the heart of Iraola’s philosophy with former teammate, and sporting director of AEK Larnaca, describing his football as "rock and roll".
Former Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli was full of praise for Iraola’s Rayo team, stating: “They have conviction in what they are doing and are a team who are able to break barriers.
“They are a very brave side, who pressure the ball everywhere and do not let you play.”
The style of Iraola’s side was summarised by football journalist Sid Lowe, who wrote: “There’s a vertigo about Rayo, something wild and wonderful to watch, the place packed and roaring every game now - they come at you from everywhere and from the start.
“No team has completed more crosses. Only Athletic produce more sprints, Rayo pressing fast in a first wave then racing back into a deep position if that doesn’t work, as relentless as they are rapid. When they set off they stampede, footballers everywhere.”
Speaking to the Guardian, Iraola described his philosophy in his own words: “I prefer too much chaos to too much organisation. I prefer us to play at a high pace, even if it means a touch of precipitation, than play at a lower pace and have a bit more control. It suits us.
“We have to do our bit for the people to enjoy it.”
While Iraola prides intensity in his play, his Rayo Vallecano team have an ability to retain the ball, keeping an average of 51.6% possession, the eighth-highest total in La Liga.
They also won the second-highest high turnovers in the league and no one had more high turnovers that resulted in shots.
With 510 shots, only Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao had more efforts on goal than Iraola’s men.
There’s also no doubt that Cherries fans will be able to identify with Iraola’s team, with the head coach placing great significance on reflecting his supporter base.
Speaking on his time at Rayo, he stated: "We represent a neighbourhood that likes to play this way.
"It is kind of the identity that Rayo fans have. They are a lot of hard workers. They love to feel this identification on the pitch and it is what they demand of the players. It is what we have to give them."
The Cherries have a lot to be excited about.
