Andoni Iraola yet to give green light to Athletic Club move as alternative gathers momentum

It did not take long for Andoni Iraola to be installed as the favourite for the Athletic Club job after Ernesto Valverde announced that he would be leaving San Mames at the end of the season. The Bournemouth manager has one of the best reputations in European football following successful spells at Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano beforehand.

Valverde will bring the curtain down on four years that cement his spot as one of the finest managers in Athletic’s history, in his third spell. His successor will have big shoes to fill, but Iraola is regarded as one of the best possible options to attempt to do so. Following a tired fourth campaign, the feeling is that fresh impetus is needed in Bilbao.

Iraola yet to give green light to Athletic Club

Iraola said days after Valverde’s announcement that ‘El Txingurri’ was his biggest reference point in management, but denied any contact with his former side. RadioMarca report that Iraola is still yet to give the green light to Athletic, and has other offers on the table.

This is not entirely unusual for Iraola, who during his time at Rayo and Bournemouth has only ever signed one-year contracts, and has left his decisions until the end of the season on whether he will renew.

Edin Terzic gathering momentum

It seems former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic is best-placed to take over from Valverde, alongside Iraola. The same outlet say that Athletic’s decision is expected in the coming weeks, and that personal terms have already been agreed with Terzic. He is keen on the job, and the fact that Jon Uriarte, one of the key figures in favour of his appointment, is set to run unopposed for the presidency this summer, only brings him closer to the job.

Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez has also been linked with the position, and is also out of contract this summer. Iraola’s former assistant has seen his stock rise over the past two seasons, and he has Rayo into the quarter-finals of the Conference League while maintaining a four-point cushion to the drop.

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