Andoni Iraola – The Greatest Love Of All?

Andoni Iraola – The Greatest Love Of All?

Love, desire, ecstasy, passion, heart! All words that could be found in a Mills & Boon story but they are also words often used by fans & journalists when describing their team or the sport of football. Indeed, in many ways, the relationship of a football fan with their club, its players, managers & owners, is like a love story. Full of highs and lows, often heart-rending, sometimes exhilarating but rarely dull. And, for most, it is a love that never dies.

I’ve been supporting AFC Bournemouth for almost 60 years now and whilst the club has always been close to my heart, there are three relationships of special meaning to me. The first was an adolescent love, both in terms of my age at the time & its comparison with affairs of the heart. John Bond’s team of the late 1960’s & early ‘70’s first made me aware of what could be possible. The excitement of watching Ted MacDougall’s goals & the beauty of Phil Boyer’s flair set this young boy’s heart a-fluttering. Plans for developing the stadium carried the tantalising promise of a life of enhanced pleasure & promise. Sadly, like most initial infatuations, the dream died almost as soon as it had begun. The manager & all our decent players got bored with me & left for somewhere new; many succumbed to the delights of Norwich City whilst some even ended up with the girl-next-door who lived on the other side of the New Forest. How could they!

“I was taken to heights never achieved before with promotion to the second tier!”

There followed many fallow years. Occasionally, glimmers of hope appeared and there was a brief infatuation with Harry Redknapp’s side. That relationship started explosively with an FA Cup win over Manchester United and then I was taken to heights never achieved before with promotion to the second tier. Unfortunately, the relationship failed to live up to its early promise and came to an unpalatable end when Leeds came to town, trashing it and my relationship. Once again, I was alone and in the wilderness.

There followed another long wait but then it happened. Or rather Eddie Howe happened. This was it! My first, true footballing love. And boy was it exciting. I never knew it could be like this. There was so much to admire about this team. The sheer abandon they displayed as they marauded their way through the leagues, laying waste to anyone unable to match their sheer drive and majesty. All those previous relationships were put into perspective as Eddie’s boys reached the promised land of the Premier League.

Years went by and the excitement was maintained. Yes, there were times when the relationship came under pressure and was questioned by outsiders and those who didn’t understand us. But I, and anyone else who had fallen under Eddie’s spell, knew that this was it – this was the real thing.

Sadly, like many first loves it was, ultimately, doomed to fail. Whilst I never fell out of love with Eddie’s team, circumstances largely beyond our control proved insurmountable. Nobody wanted the relationship to end but it had run its course. Whilst desperately wanting it to continue, I really knew that Eddie and players such as Nathan Ake and Callum Wilson were destined for more than I could give them. It was time to set them free. We parted on good terms and still meet up occasionally but it’s not the same. The passion has gone.

Deep down, I thought that was it. I’d been luckier than many others and, as the phrase goes, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I was prepared to enter the twilight years with good memories and, if lucky, an occasional fling. Promotion with Scott Parker was a brief, but ultimately unsatisfactory, diversion. Then suddenly, almost out of nowhere, Andoni Iraola appeared.

“Andoni has shown that he is willing and able to think outside of the box to make this relationship work”

A significant number of people talked very highly of this exotic stranger, of his teams’ ability to overcome the established beauties of La Liga and the exciting times he could provide. Certainly worth a shot I surmised. And so, a new relationship has begun.

There are similarities with Eddie’s team and his approach to football. The swashbuckling approach to some games – rock and roll football as it has been described by others. However, there are signs that this is going to be a more mature relationship which just might stand the test of time. For a start, it is supported by those within the club, people who can finally make my dreams a reality. Whilst the odds were always stacked against Eddie’s team there is a chance that the Andoni Iraola partnership has a real future. Whilst it may never be possible to recapture the innocent joy and excitement that accompanied Eddie’s time at the club, Andoni has shown that he is willing and able to think outside of the box to make this relationship work. Who else would think of playing a young, inexperienced, under pressure French winger at left back? And Lewis Cook at centre back? What is this strange magic I’m now witnessing?

Yes, there will be highs and the inevitable lows. Moments of disbelief and firsts (such as Old Trafford) and real challenges (our difficult start to the season). Our future will be called into question by so-called footballing experts who feel we are not worthy and are batting out of our league. However, I intend to ignore all the external noise and set my eyes on the prize.

This latest, Basque, adventure is still in its infancy but there is real evidence to suggest that this one could be a keeper. I’m not going to put any pressure on it, rather I’m going to go with the flow and see what happens. Once bitten, twice shy as they say. However, I do have real hopes for this one. Everything seems to be aligned to make it possible that this could be the greatest love of all. I hope that I, and everyone else who loves AFC Bournemouth, gives Andoni’s team time to bloom and that, this time, it can really become a marriage made in heaven.