HUMBLE Andoni Iraola says his nomination for Premier League manager of the season is “something for the club”, adding how he felt former Cherries boss Gary O’Neil also deserved recognition.

Iraola is part of a five-man shortlist for the award alongside Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Pep Guardiola (Man City), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) and Unai Emery (Aston Villa), who are in charge of the league’s current top four.

It caps a memorable first season in England for Iraola, who replaced O’Neil as boss last summer.

O’Neil swiftly joined Wolverhampton Wanderers and has them sitting 12th.

Discussing his nomination for Premier League manager of the season, Iraola said: “I think it’s something for the club.

“Probably people think we have done a very good season and it is good to see yourself with this kind of recognition.

“The other nominees I think are in another level, I would say.

“They are in the top four teams in the league.

“I think it is good that a club like us receives this kind of recognition.

“But the same way as if it goes for Sean Dyche (Everton) or Gary O’Neil, they are also doing very good jobs.

“Not fighting for the Champions League or for the top prizes.

“I think it is nice to receive the nomination.”

Bournemouth Echo: Gary O'Neil embraces his replacement in the Cherries dug out, Andoni Iraola

Asked when he found out he had been nominated, Iraola added: “I was here working.

“We are not used to these things in Spain. Normally it is not so big as it looks here.

“It is new also for me, but I am happy especially for the club.

“It looks like it has been a very easy season now when it finishes, but no, especially the start was not so good.

“But I think we’ve been improving. As a team, the players feel more confidence.

“I always say as coaches we are not so important. At the end, it is a matter of the quality of the players we have at our disposal.

“I think players have shown this season they can compete against the very good teams.

“I hope we can continue the development of the players, keeping the squad as strong as we can and be at the level of the competition, that is very high.”

Cherries sat in the relegation zone after nine games having been unable to register a victory, but they are now up in the top half, with the most points they have ever racked up in a Premier League campaign.

Iraola’s men host Brentford tomorrow (3pm), before ending the season at Chelsea on May 19.