Kelly: What was it like growing up? Talk to me about your family.
Andoni: Since I was 10 or 11 years old, I always used to go to school on the train alone to San Sebastian. After school, I took a bus to training, and after I finished training my father came to take me. Both of my parents were working – they have been working always. I am used to moving myself since I was young, which has been good for my independence. When I moved, I was 16 and had to go to a new place. I was living alone which is not the easiest thing. But I think it has been good for me.
Kelly: Did you have any brothers or sisters?
Andoni: No.
Kelly: Who did you play football with growing up?
Andoni: In Spain, when you have a school, you have your morning, you have lunch then you have two hours free. Some people go home, and then they come for the afternoon and evening classes, so it was two halves of the day. In between I used to play football all the time. I couldn’t go back home so I stayed there playing football.
Kelly: If you hadn’t been a professional footballer or manager, what would you have done?
Andoni: I started two careers. I haven’t finished any! I started engineering – too ambitious because I was already playing football. I did more than half of the career but I didn’t finish it.
Kelly: How do you escape football?
Andoni: For me, it is quite easy. I have my wife and two kids and they are not much into football. Once I leave the work environment I go home and sometimes we don’t speak anything about football. It’s very good for me. When I have a day off my wife puts lots of plans in place!
Kelly: Your family have travelled around with you. Is it important to have them with you?
Andoni: My family is very important. They are sacrificing a lot. I am going from country to country to the best clubs I have the opportunity to go, and they have to come with me. I am very clear I couldn’t do this without them. If they tell me one day ‘I want to go back home’, I am leaving. We will go back home. I know there will be a moment in my career when I will have to not be the protagonist, when my kids are older and I won’t be the boss any more. I will be happy and we will go back home and I will be the supporting team behind. I know this moment will arrive.
Kelly: If your wife didn’t plan anything for your day off, what would you do for yourself?
Andoni: I live in a place for nature and walks – Bournemouth is one of the best places in the country.
Kelly: I read you are big into reading. Is that a way you escape?
Andoni: Yes. For me, reading is a big help. You forget a little bit about everything else happening around you. It’s something that has helped me from the mental side. I use reading and I use the bike. They are the two ways I forget about the problems you always have when you are a manager.