Bournemouth Sack Gary O’Neil, Appoint New Coach

Not even Gary O’Neil’s efforts to keep AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League were enough to keep him from being fired.

On Monday, 19 June, the club confirmed O’Neil’s shocking sacking via a Twitter post, which reads: “We can confirm that we’ve parted company with head coach Gary O’Neil. We’d like to place on record our thanks to Gary and wish him all the best for the future.”

Soon afterwards, they tweeted that the 40-year-old Englishman was being replaced by Rayo Vallecano manager, Andoni Iraola.

Per reports, O’Neil – who, after being appointed coach last November, had helped to keep the Cherries from being relegated – received news of his sacking via a telephone call from the club on Monday morning.

“This has been a difficult decision, but it has been made with great consideration to best position ourselves ahead of the coming season,” said Bournemoth owner Bill Foley in a statement. “Gary will go on to have a long career as a head coach or manager, but we feel that, at this moment in time, a change is in the best interests of this football club.”

Iraola is expected to take charge of 15th-placed Bournemouth once his current contract with Vallecano ends on 30 June.

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