Their recent rise after decades of stagnation and disappointment is an uplifting one, with the feel-good factor running stronger than ever at the south-coast club.
Not only have Bournemouth recovered from the abyss to take their seat at the high table, but they’ve also established themselves as a top-quality outfit in the Premier League, a side more than capable of holding their own against the country’s richest and most decorated teams.
Nicknamed ‘The Cherries’ because of their cherry-red striped shirts, the club play their home matches at the 11,300-capacity Vitality Stadium - the smallest ground in the top division by some distance.
While they might not be blessed with a big stadium and endless amounts of money, nor have a particularly deep squad, Bournemouth have created a spirit that’s transformed them from relegation candidates in the Premier League at the start of last season to European hopefuls just 18 months later.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround; one befitting a club that’s overcome its fair share of adversity throughout their journey from the lower reaches of the English football pyramid.
Ascent through the leagues
Bournemouth fluctuated between the third and fourth tiers of English football for the best part of 50 years until the arrival of legendary manager Harry Redknapp helped the Cherries finally gain promotion to the Second Division in the late 1980s.
Having fallen short in their pursuit of top-flight football during the 1988/89 campaign, the club were unable to carry on their momentum both on and off the field, ultimately dropping down to the Third Division in 1990 before being forced into administration 18 years later.
A 10-point deduction and relegation to the fourth tier soon followed as Bournemouth teetered on the brink of going bankrupt.
Faced with a further 17-point penalty and the distinct possibility of relegation to non-league football, former player Eddie Howe took over as caretaker boss - becoming the youngest manager in the Football League at 31.
Howe immediately transformed the club’s fortunes, escaping relegation on the penultimate matchday of the 2008/09 campaign before leading the Cherries up through the divisions across two separate spells in charge.
Aided by new owners and greater stability behind the scenes, Bournemouth scaled new heights in 2015 as the club sealed promotion to the top flight of English football for the first time.
Since that long-awaited breakthrough, the Cherries have more than held their own in the Premier League - securing a ninth-placed finish in 2016/17 while attracting several top players to the club, such as Nathan Ake, Jack Wilshere and Dominic Solanke.
A two-year stint back in the Championship between 2020 and 2022 proved to be little more than a blip, with Bournemouth re-establishing themselves as a top-quality Premier League side once again.
Now under the ownership of Black Knight Football Club - a company led by American businessman Bill Foley - the Cherries, who are also part-owned by Hollywood actor Michael B Jordan, look to be in excellent shape as they target a long and successful period in England’s top division.
Chasing a European dream
Andoni Iraola and his compelling Bournemouth side are one of the stories of the season as they chase an improbable top-six finish in the Premier League.
The Cherries currently sit 10th in the English top flight after a slight dip in form, eight points adrift of Chelsea in fourth and just six behind sixth-placed Newcastle.
Their impressive tally of 44 points from 30 games tells only half the story though, with Iraola developing an extremely efficient, high-pressing philosophy that has helped mastermind wins over Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
This is backed up by the numbers, with Bournemouth ranking top of the pile in the Premier League for recoveries, as well as third for expected goals (xG) and third for total chances created, as per Opta.
However, for all of Bournemouth’s success this campaign, it wasn’t an easy start for Iraola. Having picked up just three draws from his opening nine league games in charge of the Cherries in 2023/24, the Spaniard was under immediate pressure.
His job was reportedly on the line heading into their 10th Premier League match of the season - a home meeting against fellow strugglers Burnley.
A crucial 2-1 comeback win handed Iraola his maiden league victory, and that proved to be the catalyst for a major upturn in form, with Bournemouth earning 19 points from a possible 24 in the next eight games to help inspire them to a respectable 12th-placed finish.
It was the club’s most successful top-flight campaign in terms of points (48), while their aggressive, front-footed approach was lauded by supporters.
The foundations were put in place as the former Rayo Vallecano boss managed to get his distinct footballing philosophy and methods across to a new group of players.
Pep Guardiola provided a glowing endorsement of Bournemouth’s style, with the Manchester City manager stating: “Today, the modern football is the way that Bournemouth play.”
Moving back to the current campaign, and despite dealing with an extensive injury list for the past few months, Bournemouth have gone from strength to strength once again.
The high-profile departure of talismanic striker Solanke threatened to derail their progress last summer, but that’s done little to stem the Cherries’ momentum since.
New signings Dean Huijsen and Evanilson have injected real quality into the starting XI, while the likes of Milos Kerkez, Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert continue to blossom under the tutelage of Iraola.
It remains to be seen whether Bournemouth will be able to secure European football and keep the core of their squad together next season, but one thing’s for sure, the club couldn’t be in a stronger position as they continue to defy the odds and break new ground.
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