Tottenham targets Bora's Andoni Iraola as new head coach amid challenges

Tottenham is considering Andoni Iraola (42), the Bournemouth manager, as a leading candidate for the next head coach, but it has been claimed that acquiring him will not be easy.

The British media outlet Team Talk reported on the 20th (Korea time) that "Tottenham is contemplating the future of head coach Ange Postecoglou, who has been struggling lately. Although Iraola has been placed among the candidates for the next head coach, three obstacles must be overcome to acquire him."

Iraola took charge of Bournemouth in the summer of 2023, marking his first steps in the Premier League. He led the team to a 12th-place finish in his first season, and this season, he has shown improved performance, currently sitting in 10th place. They are competing for a spot in the Champions League, trailing the 4th place by 5 points.

Tottenham must overcome three hurdles to appoint Iraola. The first is the issue of Postecoglou's future. Currently, Tottenham has fallen to 14th place in the league and was eliminated early from the FA Cup. However, the club intends not to make an immediate decision on changing the manager. The final decision is planned after evaluating the results in the UEFA Europa League, where Tottenham has reached the quarter-finals.

The second hurdle is to fend off competing teams that want Iraola. Various clubs across Europe, including Tottenham, have been paying attention to his leadership. Some big clubs are also showing interest in acquiring him. Team Talk reported, "While Tottenham is considering Iraola as a strong candidate for the next head coach, there is a strong possibility of fierce competition."

The third hurdle is Iraola's personal choice. Bournemouth views him as a key asset and plans to offer him a new contract. Team Talk noted, "Iraola aims to continue his project at Bournemouth with the goal of qualifying for European competitions. Similar to how Xabi Alonso chose to stay at Bayer Leverkusen despite interest from Liverpool last year, Iraola could also refuse a transfer."

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