Andoni Iraola's ability to improve young players could make the ideal candidate to lead Chelsea into a new era.
Iraola is one of several candidates on Chelsea's managerial shortlist following Liam Rosenior's sacking last week.
The Spaniard has done an exceptional job at Bournemouth since joining the club in June 2023, establishing the Cherries as one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League.
More importantly, Iraola has Bournemouth challenging for a European finish in 2025/26, and they're currently one point above Chelsea in seventh.
Whilst he deserves plaudits for working miracles on the South Coast, moving to a massive club would present an even bigger challenge, and he's already proven he can cope with one important element.
Andoni Iraola has proven he can improve young players
Chelsea supporters are crying out for BlueCo to hire a manager with trophy-winning experience in the top divisions. Iraola doesn't tick that box like Xabi Alonso, for instance, but the 43-year-old is exceptional at proving young players.
Take Eli Junior Kroupi as an example; Iraola snapped up the attacker from FC Lorient in February 2025, and he has since transformed the teenager into one of the Premier League's most promising young forwards.
Kroupi has plundered 11 goals in 29 top-flight appearances this term after Iraola found it a "big challenge" improving other parts of his game to the same level as his "top" finishing when discussing his impact on Bournemouth's official website.
"I think Junior has been a big challenge for me this season, one of the biggest challenges because we noticed straightaway that he has special things. His finishing is top for me.
But we had to work a lot with him and, especially, he has had to do a lot of work that he wasn’t used to to win his minutes.
He has become a much better player for me. I know he had a good start and scored goals but I try not to talk to him about goals because this is something which is natural and he will always have it.
So, I have tried to make him focus on other parts and he has improved a lot. In the past month, he has allowed us to put out a very offensive line-up because he is giving us the work rate so we can keep it all together and not suffer defensively too much."
The 19-year-old is one of several players who have blossomed under Iraola's guidance, with Brazilian attacker Rayan and midfield maestro Alex Scott both following a similar trajectory.
Chelsea have the youngest squad in the Premier League, with an average age of 23.4, and Bournemouth are fourth on that list. So, the former Rayo Vallecano boss is used to the challenge of working with younger players.
Chelsea's youngsters can benefit from Iraola's expertise
BlueCo's last two appointments, Enzo Maresca and Rosenior, hadn't experienced first-team management in the Premier League before moving to Stamford Bridge.
The appointment of Iraola, meanwhile, would eliminate the gamble of appointing someone with no experience of managing in England's top-flight.
But in a squad made up of young players and limited leadership skills, the Spaniard at least has the expertise of developing talent, and there are several who benefit from his appointment.
Estevao would flourish following a promising start to life in West London, as would Jorrel Hato, Andrey Santos and Mamadou Sarr, who are all aged 21 and under.
What Iraola has done at the Vitality Stadium in terms of developing talent could surely transfer across to Chelsea, and then supporters could finally see the best of their squad.
Add us as a preferred source on Google