Iraola says Bournemouth will be in 'very good hands' under Rose

Andoni Iraola believes Bournemouth will be in "very good hands" when Marco Rose succeeds him at the end of the season.

Iraola confirmed last week that he will leave the Vitality Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, with several clubs, including Athletic Club, Newcastle United and even Real Madrid, touted as possible landing spots.

And Bournemouth moved quickly to tie down a successor to the Spaniard, confirming on Monday that Rose had agreed a three-year contract to take the reins.

Rose led Salzburg to back-to-back league titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19, then managed Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund before moving on to RB Leipzig, where he won the DFB-Pokal in 2023.

Rose oversaw more games (90) and victories (49) in the Bundesliga while with Leipzig than any other head coach in their history, winning 54% of them.

He will have big shoes to fill on the south coast, as Iraola has overseen 39 wins, 35 draws and 35 defeats in 109 Premier League games at the helm, with his 36% win rate being the highest of any Bournemouth manager in the competition (Gary O'Neil and Eddie Howe both 29%, Scott Parker 25%).

But Iraola believes the club have identified a coach that can continue their upward trajectory.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Leeds United, Iraola said of the appointment: "I think the club will be in very good hands. He's a great manager.

"I praised him a few years ago. I always liked his teams, and I hope he continues that.

"He's a good manager with a lot of European experience. He looks very exciting. I don't know him personally, but I always like his teams.

"They should be happy because he's someone who can definitely improve the team. I'm sure the players are happy they know what's happening."

Bournemouth are still in the thick of the European race, as they sit eighth in the table and know a victory over Leeds would lift them into the top seven.

"We are in a good place in the standings, but it's going to be so difficult for us," Iraola said. "We are competing against not one or two but a lot of teams."