Andoni Iraola has not yet decided his next move, and that pause has pushed AC Milan to widen a coaching search that now includes Matthias Jaissle and contact with Mauricio Pochettino’s entourage.
Iraola ended a successful three-year spell at Bournemouth a few days ago after guiding the club into next season’s Europa League, leaving him linked with Milan, Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen — with Leverkusen said to hold the early advantage.
Milan’s outreach is concrete. The club has opened two alternative coaching paths: Jaissle, who has coached Al Ahli since 2023 and won two continental Champions Leagues with the Saudi side, and Pochettino, whose representatives have met Milan officials. Jaissle’s deal runs until next year and reportedly pays around 11 million euros per season, a figure that would shape negotiations if Milan pursued him.
The timing has sharpened because Milan’s leadership is in flux. A board-level purge initiated by RedBird at the start of the week has left the club trying to set a new direction for football operations; Milan is also weighing a Ralf Rangnick-backed profile for its technical area, a description that fits Jaissle if the club chooses a long-term, systems-driven approach.
That Rangnick angle and Jaissle’s salary are the kind of practical details the club must weigh against Iraola’s appeal: he delivered three years of sustained progress at Bournemouth and a place in European competition, credentials that explain Milan’s interest even as other suitors circle.
Milan’s contact with Mauricio Pochettino’s camp is confirmed; Pochettino addressed it directly in a press conference in Spanish: "Es posible que mis agentes se hayan reunido con el Milán, porque tienen que hacer su trabajo." He went on to explain his situation at length: "¿Creen que toda la gente que representa a distintos entrenadores no tiene conversaciones con distintos clubes-Siempre decimos que nuestro contrato termina en julio, después del Mundial. Obviamente, recibimos propuestas y... claro, me he reunido con algunas personas, de diferentes clubes. Pero son simples charlas, porque en el mundo del fútbol tenemos amigos. Tenemos amigos en todas partes, y mis representantes trabajan para mí para tratar de encontrar la mejor oportunidad para el futuro. Entonces, si un club viniera a decirme: «Oh, Mauricio, te queremos, pero tienes que empezar mañana», respondería: «Lo siento, tengo un compromiso con la Selección".
Pochettino’s words encapsulate the friction at the centre of Milan’s search: he acknowledged talks but reminded listeners that his contract with the United States national team — the job he took in 2024 — runs until July, after the World Cup. That commitment, he said, would prevent him from accepting any role that required an immediate start.
The practical consequence is clear for Milan. If the club needs a coach who can step in now and begin summer planning, Pochettino’s availability is limited. Jaissle, under contract through next year and earning a reported 11 million euros a season, offers continuity and a Rangnick-friendly profile, while Iraola offers recent Premier League success and an ability to build quickly — provided he signs.
Which way Milan moves will determine its summer: convince Iraola to commit, commit financially to a high-priced foreign coach in Jaissle, or wait for Pochettino to become available after the World Cup. The club has started conversations on all three paths, but no appointment has been made.
The immediate question is no longer whether Milan has candidates — it has several — but which candidate can match the club’s calendar and the new board’s expectations. Milan must either secure Iraola or pivot to a coach able to begin preparations now; until one of those moves happens, the club’s next season remains unsettled.
