Andoni Iraola tipped for Tottenham job in shock Bournemouth exit claim
Tottenham suffered yet another defeat under Ange Postecoglou on Thursday night at AZ Alkmaar as their Europa League campaign hangs by a thread.
Spurs must win back in North London next Thursday (13 March) to have any chance of progressing in a competition towards which they approached the knockout stage as favourites.
Postecoglou sack talk has begun to pick up pace again in the wake of the loss in the Netherlands, with potential candidates such as Andoni Iraola and Eddie Howe mentioned.
Howe would reject Tottenham, Iraola should come says Deeney
Troy Deeney has claimed while he would turn down Tottenham if he was Howe at Newcastle United, Iraola at Bournemouth should consider the role if it becomes available.
Postecoglou has only the Europa League now to battle for with his team marooned in the bottom half of the Premier League where they have not finished since 2008 – ironically the year they last lifted a trophy.
Deeney, speaking live on talkSPORT (7 March, 10:27), believes the factor of Tottenham being a far bigger entity than Bournemouth should be enough for Iraola to make the move.
“I wouldn’t go if I was Eddie; I would go to Tottenham if I was Iraola,” Deeney said.
“No disrespect to Bournemouth for what they’ve done, but Spurs are just a bigger club, and unfortunately Bournemouth can’t get to that without changing the stadium.
“And if they’re building a stadium, [Iraola] might be gone over that course of time.”
Iraola is currently 11/2 joint-favourite to become the next Spurs manager with Paddy Power as of Friday morning (7 March), alongside several others on the same odds including Thomas Frank and a return for Mauricio Pochettino.
Spurs’ season rests on AZ Alkmaar
The tie against AZ not only holds Tottenham’s entire campaign together and potentially an opportunity for Postecoglou to spend even one more game in charge, but it also dictates next season.
Without winning the Europa League, it would take a miracle now for Spurs to qualify for Europe by any other means. To win Europe’s secondary competition would automatically qualify the successful club for next season’s Champions League.
With Tottenham out of both domestic cups, their routes are blocked off towards a Europa League place this way. It simply all hinges on next Thursday.
| Andoni Iraola – managerial career | |
| AEK Larnaca | 2018-2019 |
| Mirandes | 2019-2020 |
| Rayo Vallecano | 2020-2023 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2023-present |
This is the biggest test of Spurs’ mettle in what is a young and fearless but perhaps naive squad under Postecoglou. AZ will be determined to spoil the party, with a visiting side which includes ex-Lilywhite Troy Parrott up top.
For now, Spurs host Iraola’s Bournemouth this Sunday (9 March) in the Premier League, and the visitors look in far better shape to take the three points.