The continuity of Iraola is already a reality. Rayo has made official the renewal of the coach for one more season (2022), so he will direct the franjirroja ship in First. The predisposition of both parties has always been good. Moreover, during the last days, only the traditional “fringes” remained, among which were duration of the contract. Issue resolved. Finally, it will continue one more year in Vallecas.
Iraola has been the architect of the promotion, building a perfect playoff. The Basque coach managed to get the sixth-placed team to eliminate the two teams that reached the promotion the most in shape, playing the second leg always at home. First he beat Leganés 3-0 and 1-2 and then he was forced to overcome Vallecas 1-2 in Montilivi. He did so by embedding Óscar Valentín between the two centrals and holding on with one less player, due to the expulsion of Velázquez, more than half an hour. His Rayo beat Girona 0-2 and signed his return to First Division.
This will be the 39-year-old Iraola's first experience in the elite of our football and his resume supports him. Leading AEK Larnaca (18-19) he won the Cyprus Super Cup and managed to qualify the team for the group stage of the Europa League, for the second time in its history. Already on the bench of a recently promoted Mirandés (19-20) he struck again, reaping a comfortable salvation – he finished eleventh – and taking him to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, leaving Celta, Seville and Villareal on the way.
“When he came we knew he was a technician who could fit in with this squad and the football we wanted to do. The humane treatment has been very good and we have achieved the objective, so the year has been round“The president of Rayo said about Iraola and his work in an interview with As. has cemented this ascent with 22 victories, 10 draws and 14 defeats, with 60 goals for and 43 against. In addition, he had a great performance in the Cup, where only Barça could beat the Vallecanos in the second round.
However, this 20-21 was not always a bed of roses. Between the months of April and May, those of Iraola chained five games without winning and the continuity of the coach was in question. The Rayista club gave him confidence and the team's work paid off, adding five wins in the last seven games. That sealed the passport to glory and confirmed his specialty in comebacks, eight in the league.