Leading with Vitality: AFC Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola on going next level
Marking 10 years of Vitality’s partnership with AFC Bournemouth, Greg Levine recently caught up for a candid conversation with the team’s manager Andoni Iraola at their new state of the art training facility to discuss what makes him tick as a manager
Joining the club in 2023, Andoni Iraola has quickly transformed The Cherries’ fortunes and turned them into a force to reckoned with. Under his stewardship, AFC Bournemouth have achieved notable victories against top-tier teams, while racking up their highest Premier League points tally this season, even knocking on the door of European football. Not bad for a team that finished just above the relegation zone two years ago.
“We are fighting clubs that that are bigger than us… Now in this moment, we are enjoying it”, he tells Vitality Deputy CEO Greg Levine at the team’s new state-of-the-art training facility.
During the candid conversation - on managing a high performing team and punching well above their weight - Iraola acknowledges that the best managers are “assistants mostly” when it comes to getting the most out of players. Like any successful team or business, it’s also just as much about the ‘back room’ staff. “The assistants, the analysts, they are making my job a lot easier… they are a huge part of the club. My job is to maximise everyone,” he tells Greg in the video.
Reflecting on what influences him as a manager, Iraola also highlights the importance of learning and studying success across a range of different fields.
“I like to analyse different sports, especially cycling. It’s an individual sport, but it’s all of the team working for one. Everyone is giving their best, to give our leader that 5% more chance of winning”, he says.
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