Bournemouth: Kieran McKenna on shortlist but Marco Rose believed to be frontrunner to replace Andoni Iraola

Marco Rose is believed to be the frontrunner for the Bournemouth job.

Sky Sports News understands the club have a shortlist of three potential successors to Andoni Iraola that also includes Ipswich's Kieran McKenna.

Bournemouth are believed to want to install Iraola's successor quickly after it was confirmed on Monday he would leave at the end of his contract.

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The key name to watch is Rose, who is available since being sacked by RB Leipzig in March 2025.

McKenna, meanwhile, is still pushing for promotion back to the Premier League with Ipswich.

Another name Bournemouth admire is Iraola's former assistant Inigo Perez, but he is not thought to be on that three-man shortlist at this time.

Iraola took over at the Vitality Stadium in June 2023 following the departure of Gary O'Neil, guiding the Cherries to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, setting a new club-record points tally.

With Iraola's contract set to expire in the summer, the club had been looking to agree terms on a new deal, but have reluctantly accepted his departure.

"AFC Bournemouth can confirm that head coach, Andoni Iraola, will leave the club at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, bringing an end to his successful three-year tenure on the south coast," a statement on Tuesday read.

Iraola has been linked with a return to former team Athletic Bilbao as well as the Manchester United job.

The news of Iraola's departure comes just a few days after a memorable 2-1 win at Premier League leaders Arsenal.

"It has been an honour to manage Bournemouth and I am proud of what we have achieved together," Iraola said on the club's website.

"I'm thankful to the players and staff that I've worked with, as well as (chairman) Bill (Foley), who have all made my time here so special.

"As for the fans, you have continued to show your fantastic support to myself and the team, and for that I will always be grateful.

"I feel this is the right moment for me to step away, but I will always carry fantastic memories of this club."

How do you replace the irreplaceable?

Analysis from Sky Sports News reporter Mark McAdam:

How do you replace the almost irreplaceable? Well that's what Bournemouth have to do.

Back in July 2023 when they appointed a relatively unknown coach in Iraola, their first-ever foreign manager, no one expected it to go quite this well.

A solid first season followed by two campaigns that have seen them in the race for Europe is incredible for a club like Bournemouth. He could still lead them into European competition for the first time - and then walk away.

But whilst he's taken his time to decide on his future, the club have been working in the background to find their next head coach and the key name to watch is Rose.

The 49-year-old is available having been sacked in March 2025 by RB Leipzig for underperforming in the league and Champions League. But he has won silverware, and does have Champions League experience.

The pursuit of trophies and Europe is the next step for Bournemouth. The question on the south coast is; can they add a major trophy to the cabinet for the first time in the club's history?

Rose also fits the bill with regard to his footballing philosophy, he has described the basic ideas of his playing style as "emotion, hunger and being active".

"We want to be very active against the ball, sprint a lot, he has said. "We want to win high balls and have short ways to the goal. We don't want to play high and wide, but fast, dynamic and actively forward."

That is a very similar style to Iraola.

The other name that appears on Bournemouth's list is the highly respected Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna - but the fact that he is in the middle of a promotion push, and a season that could be extended by three weeks by the playoffs, would put barriers in the way of a quick appointment.

One other name to keep an eye on is Iñigo Pérez - Andoni's former assistant and current boss of Rayo Vallecano. He did come over to Bournemouth with Iraola but didn't stay because of work visa issues.

He is highly respected by the club - but not necessarily on their short list this time.

In an ideal world Bournemouth would like to have this wrapped up in the next week or two - so the planning for next season can start immediately. They may even have Europe to plan for too.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Bournemouth: Kieran McKenna on shortlist but Marco Rose believed to be frontrunner to replace Andoni Iraola