Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola believes his team now possesses “the best tools” for success after moving into a modern training center. The Cherries have taken advantage of the international break to relocate to a £32 million facility that will serve the men’s first team, women’s team, and academy players.
The new complex meets Category Two status requirements and features an indoor dome, outdoor full-sized pitches, and rehabilitation facilities spread across a 57-acre site. The project was initially approved in October 2019 and its completion comes as Bournemouth shows positive momentum.
Last weekend, the club celebrated success by winning the FA Women’s National League Division One South West championship with a 2-0 victory against Bristol Rovers at Vitality Stadium.
This Saturday, Iraola’s side will face Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, with hopes of reaching the semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history. Currently sitting 10th in the Premier League, Bournemouth is just five points shy of a Champions League spot, with European ambitions on the horizon.
In his first press conference at the new training base, Iraola acknowledged the significant change, stating, “It’s a big improvement for the team and the club. The pitches are perfect, and we have all the tools we need. At least we can’t use other excuses now because we have the best tools.”
Bournemouth finished 12th in their first season under Iraola, who joined the club from Rayo Vallecano in the summer of 2023, and they appear poised for a stronger performance this season.
When asked about his future at the club, Iraola said, “I want to do my job to the best of my ability. I don’t know how far we can go or where we will finish. I’m really happy here. We have a great opportunity to make history, and achieving new heights would be amazing for me personally and for the club, but we know we must stay realistic.”
