ANDONI Iraola says he will spend most of his summer in “beautiful Bournemouth”, as well as exploring what Dorset has to offer with his young children.

Iraola spent most of his life in the Basque Country, born there before spending all his professional football career in the area, until moving to New York aged 33.

Spells in management in Cyprus, Castile and Leon, and Madrid followed, before moving to Bournemouth to become Cherries head coach last summer.

Iraola recently used the opportunity to return to Spain, playing in a charity match to celebrate Rayo Vallecano’s 100th anniversary, which conveniently coincided with the half term school break in England.

Many of Cherries’ players are currently off on holiday, with Dominic Solanke and Alex Scott sharing pictures on their social media accounts of trips to Japan and Spain respectively.

But most of Iraola’s time before pre-season with Cherries begins in July will be spent in Bournemouth, with his wife and two young children.

Asked if he had many summer plans, Iraola said: “Most of the summer will be here in beautiful Bournemouth.

“There is a week I will go home, because I haven’t been since last summer, so I have to go.

“Then probably I will try to find some days. But the children have to continue at school, so it is not going to be easy.”

Asked if Weymouth beach is one of the venues he enjoys visiting, Iraola said: “Have you have seen me there? I like it.

“Sometimes we go to Weymouth, Swanage or Christchurch, different places for a change.

“We like to go with the kids normally to different places, but we have been to Weymouth sometimes, yes.”