Bayer Leverkusen consider Andoni Iraola as managerial candidate
Bayer Leverkusen have added Andoni Iraola to their shortlist of potential managerial candidates, according to sources close to the German club. The development follows the confirmation this week that Iraola will leave his role as Bournemouth head coach when his contract expires at the end of the current season. Leverkusen are reportedly assessing their options in the dugout and are weighing a potential change from current boss Kasper Hjulmand.
Iraola’s departure from Bournemouth was confirmed by the club on Tuesday, making him an immediately available target for clubs across Europe. The 43-year-old Spaniard has significantly enhanced his reputation during his tenure on the south coast, guiding the Cherries to a 12th-place finish in his first Premier League season before securing a historic ninth-place finish last term. Despite the summer sales of key players, Bournemouth remain in contention for European qualification this season, currently sitting 11th and just two points off the top seven.
His work has not gone unnoticed, with sources indicating that Iraola is also under consideration for a return to Spain, where Athletic Bilbao are monitoring his situation. However, Leverkusen’s interest adds a significant new dimension to the early summer managerial market. According to reports, the Bundesliga club is compiling a shortlist that also includes Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and Brentford’s Thomas Frank, both of whom possess recent Premier League experience.
The potential move represents a logical next step for Iraola, offering the chance to manage in the Champions League with a club that won the Bundesliga title in 2025. For Leverkusen, his profile aligns with a modern, progressive style of play and a proven ability to develop players and achieve results exceeding financial expectations, as demonstrated at Bournemouth. Iraola’s candidacy is understood to be a serious one, with the club’s hierarchy yet to make a final decision on Hjulmand’s future.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth have begun their own search for a successor. The club is reportedly considering Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and former Leipzig coach Marco Rose as leading contenders to take over at the Vitality Stadium. The managerial carousel is thus set in motion, with Iraola’s next destination poised to be a prominent storyline in the coming weeks as clubs finalise their plans for the 2026-27 campaign.
