CHERRIES head coach Andoni Iraola made a winning return to action on the pitch, captaining his side to victory in a match to celebrate Rayo Vallecano’s 100th anniversary.

Iraola, 41, spent most of his playing days in Spain as a right-back for boyhood team Athletic Club in Bilbao.

After spending just over a year in the US with New York City, Iraola retired from playing in November 2016.

But he was tempted back out onto the pitch in a match to celebrate Rayo Vallecano’s 100th anniversary.

Rayo was the club Iraola managed prior to joining Cherries last summer.

He spent three seasons there between 2020 and 2023, recording 56 wins from 136 matches.

Iraola guided Rayo Vallecano to promotion in his first season via the play-offs, before achieving finishes of 12th and 11th position in La Liga, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Iraola returned to Vallecas to captain a La Liga ‘All Star’ team, against a side of Rayo Vallecano ‘legends’.

The All Stars won 4-2, with David Villa and Juanfran among the scorers.

Inigo Perez, current Rayo boss and former assistant to Iraola, also featured, as well as Spain legend Raul Gonzalez, with the teams managed by Jorge Valdano and ex-Spurs manager Juande Ramos.

Raul Martin Presa, president of Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano, said: “We want to convey our utmost gratitude to all those people who, from their different positions, have made it possible for Rayo Vallecano de Madrid SAD to celebrate its 100th anniversary and, especially, to all the people who made the centenary celebration possible.

“It was a feeling and emotion that all Rayistas, as well as many football lovers, will keep forever in our hearts.”

Money raised from the event went to a charity supporting the fight against motor neurone disease ALS.