Bournemouth

Ella Gibbs
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Leeds at Vitality Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines:

• There are no fresh injury concerns for the Cherries as Justin Kluivert and Lewis Cook remain the only two players unavailable.

• With Iraola's departure set for the end of the season, Bournemouth have announced Marco Rose as his successor. On the appointment, Iraola said: "I think the club will be in very good hands. He's a great manager. I praised him a few years ago, I always liked his teams and I hope he continues that. He's a good manager with a lot of European experience. He looks very exciting."

• He continued: "I don't know him personally but I always like his teams. They should be happy because he's someone who can definitely improve the team. I'm sure the players are happy they know what's happening."

• When asked about how he found the family culture at the club, Iraola said: "I have been very comfortable working here, we've always been very open and sincere and you know what everyone is thinking. We've always discussed what the best way of announcing things is and this decision has been done in a proper way."

• The Bournemouth manager said he found it "difficult" to make changes to his squad: "We played well in the last two games so it's difficult to make changes to the squad but I think the demands of the game are to defend and subs are going to be very important because Leeds perform strong in the first half. We will have to analyse well and go with the best 11 we can."

• On facing Leeds, Iraola said: "I expect the best, I expect them to come with every intention. We have to be very good, especially defensively."

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Sam Davis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Following the news that Cherries head coach Andoni Iraola will be departing at the end of the season, Bournemouth have acted swiftly in finding his successor.

The German Marco Rose has been announced as the man tasked with replacing Andoni. He has been without a club since leaving RB Leipzig in March 2025, but his arrival will excite many a Cherries fan, because stylistically, it seems to be very close to the brand of football that Iraola has already implemented on the south coast.

As with Andoni, Marco Rose's career statistics tell a story of consistent overachievement - one which impressively includes league titles, a Europa League semi-final at Red Bull Salzburg, a third-place Bundesliga finish and Champions League qualification at Borussia Monchengladbach. Add to that, a runners-up campaign (plus DFB-Pokal final) at Borussia Dortmund.

The 49-year-old certainly favours quick transitions and energetic forward play which will be music to the ears of the Bournemouth fans, who have experienced just that under the guidance of Iraola.

Rose himself has described his style as "emotionality, hunger and being active". He always wants his team to be very active against the ball and will need his side to be full of energy. He's often favoured a diamond in midfield with two up top, which once again should spark enthusiasm among the Cherries faithful.

This feels like a big coup for the club and certainly signals ambition and will allow the club's exciting identity and style to remain.

From all angles, nipping the managerial situation in the bud seems like the right thing to do because it gives the players a clear pathway without any of the uncertainty and it will give supporters a lot of enthusiasm, which will only serve to compound the joy being felt from this season's incredible campaign.

Find more from Sam Davis at Back of the Net, external

Bournemouth's new head coach Marco Rose will bring Jurgen Klopp-style football and a lot of experience to Vitality Stadium next season, says German football writer Constantin Eckner.

He said: "Rose represents that style of football that became somewhat famous through the Red Bull teams - intensity, high pressing and there's a lot of influence from Jurgen Klopp. He played over 150 games for Klopp at Mainz in the 2000s.

"Rose brings a lot of experience from the Champions League and Europa League; he coached almost 70 games in both competitions combined so, if Bournemouth qualify for Europe, it will be helpful to have Rose's experience."

The former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund boss will be succeeding Andoni Iraola in the summer and BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark believes the takeover should be seamless.

"I think it makes a lot of sense when you read into it and dig a bit deeper around Marco Rose in terms of what Bournemouth have been trying to do around the last three years or so, and certainly since they moved away from Gary O'Neil and appointed Andoni Iraola," said Clark.

"He's got a very clear playing style; it's high pressing, high intensity, attacking and all of those things are what Iraola's been trying to do.

"This seems to be the model and the philosophy for Bournemouth - they've brought somebody in who can play a similar style and the players should be used to it. It shouldn't be too unfamiliar to them and it feels like an appointment looking towards the next step."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds here

German football expert Raphael Honigstein believes new Bournemouth boss Marco Rose will be a less "extreme" version of Andoni Iraola.

Honigstein expects to see less intense pressing but believes Rose - who played under Jurgen Klopp at Mainz - also fits the expected Bournemouth model.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Bournemouth's decision to appoint head coach Marco Rose as Andoni Iraola's successor in the summer. We wanted to know if it was a good fit and what the priorities are.

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: The board got it right in appointing Andoni Iraola, when the pundits thought Gary O'Neil was harshly treated. We need a manager to take us into Europe with a high press, Marco Rose fits the bill. But let's give him time. Bill Foley is a shrewd judge of character. My money is on him getting it right again. Success has to be challenging for Europe and getting to the later stages of domestic cups.

Herbert: Superb appointment.

Graham: He has the credentials to keep the club on the trajectory it is already on. Let's hope we finish in a European position and start a new adventure for the Cherries.

Richard: While I'm sad Iraola is leaving, I'm pleased the appointment of Rose has been a swift one and his style of play sounds an exciting one. He will need time to bed in and assert his ideas but onwards and upwards for my club! 17 years ago we needed a Steve Fletcher half volley to save us from relegation to the Conference so I'm happy to continue to ride this rollercoaster of being a Cherries fan!

Malcolm: We trust the recruitment department; whether players or manager they seem to get it right. Marco will have plenty of time to see the club and players before he starts which is better than coming in later. I am sure the fans will get behind him and continue supporting him and the team as they have done with Andoni.

Dave: SUPERB.

Terry: Don't really know him but he has won trophies and been in Europe so there's some pedigree and in the recruitment team we trust. Hope he insists on keeping Junior Kroupi for at least one more season. Welcome Marco.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth have become accustomed to having major talent poached and, although Andoni Iraola insists he does not have another job lined up, he is expected to be in high demand this summer.

Before the season started, they lost three of their four first-choice defenders. Milos Kerkez joined Liverpool, Illia Zabarnyi moved to Paris St-Germain and Dean Huijsen signed for Real Madrid, for a combined total of almost £150m.

In January, attacker Antoine Semenyo joined Manchester City after his release clause was triggered.

However, the Cherries can reflect positively on each replacement proving successful. Adrien Truffert came in for Kerkez, Bafode Diakite replaced Huijsen and Rayan was signed as Semenyo's successor.

The club hope Marco Rose will follow the same pattern. He has long been regarded as a potential replacement for Iraola in the event of the Spaniard deciding to leave.

Bournemouth are impressed by Rose's five years of experience leading clubs in the Champions League, as well as his Europa League pedigree.

He has played a role in the development of several leading players, including Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund and Dominik Szoboszlai at RB Leipzig. Rose also enjoyed surprise success at Borussia Monchengladbach, qualifying for the Champions League with limited resources.

Those experiences would be key if Bournemouth are to qualify for Europe for the first time. Player trading continues to offset revenue limitations caused by the club's relatively small stadium and commercial income.

It is also a low-risk appointment as Rose is currently without a club, meaning no compensation is required, but it is one they hope will make an immediate impact next season.

Image source, Getty Images

So, it didn't take long for Bournemouth to announce their Andoni Iraola replacement.

Marco Rose will become the club's new head coach on a three-year contract, which will begin following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

The 49-year-old arrives on the south coast having spent the majority of his managerial career in his native Germany, with spells at Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and, most recently, RB Leipzig on his impressive CV.

He comes from the Red Bull school of high-pressing football, going through the academy at RB Salzburg where he was very successful, winning the youth league with them and later becoming the senior team manager.

He has big shoes to fill at Bournemouth, however, with Iraola looking to end his time by breaking the club's top-flight points record for the third successive season.

Cherries fans, what do you make of the appointment? Do you have faith that the board have made the right decision? And what does success look like under Rose?

Get in touch with your views here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Brian: Very poor performance and poor gameplan. Eddie Howe has had a full season to show he knows what he is doing and this season identifies why he should be replaced along with non-performing management and coaches. Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon will be at better performing clubs next season and that is understandable as they want to play at the highest level.

Ozzy: When you get down to basics these players have let Eddie Howe down and of course the fans. Some are simply not good enough. I would give Howe time to correct this season, but I doubt the owners are going to give him that time. It's an awful end for a man who is a great bloke and has done so much for us.

G8: I was at the game. We lack leadership on the pitch. We also couldn't get any rhythm and the players were out of sync. I'd put the experience of Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn back in. William Osula tried, but he needs to put some muscle on. The three in attack were woeful.

Lee: Eddie has done amazing things for the club. But in his pre- game press conferences he says we will do X, Y and Z, then in the game it's the opposite. Has he lost the dressing room? These players get paid an awful lot of money. If they were in a normal job some would be under disciplinary procedures or given the boot.

Bournemouth fans

Simon: Fantastic to get the win. A great controlled display against a passive Newcastle. The points were there for the taking which will sicken Eddie Howe. I am proud the unbeaten record stretches to 13 games. The players clearly love Andoni Iraola and they fought even harder despite his now known departure. Keep going Cherries so Andoni can leave us with Europe next season.

Dave: 25 points from 23 games! That's Champions League form across a whole season. This Iraola side must be the best side in the Premier League, pound-for-pound.

Stewart: So proud of the team, supporting their coach to the end - wonderful. It's such a tribute to a truly great coach. As a lifetime Cherries supporter I wish him all the luck in the world - thank you Andoni.

David: We are forever developing! None more than Petrovic, who kept us in the game. James Hill and Evanilson are the unsung players. We have a super midfield engine in Ryan Christie, Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier. It's a great pity Marcos Senesi is leaving as he's brilliant.

Bournemouth are prepared to sell 19-year-old French forward Eli Junior Kroupi, who is wanted by Manchester United. He is valued at more than £50m. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Any suggestion of distraction following Andoni Iraola's decision to leave Bournemouth was firmly dismissed by his players in their statement victory against Newcastle.

It was confirmed this week that the Spaniard will leave the club when his contract expires this summer, ending a three‑year spell in charge.

"If anything, it has made us want us to run harder for him and finish the season off with something special," Cherries winger Marcus Tavernier told BBC Match of the Day.

"He has done a lot for this club and players, so it is only right we show him this reaction to finish off with something we can remember for a long time."

Iraola added: "You are always worried because when you give this kind of news, you don't know how everyone is going to react. I trust my players a lot and I know they want to push until the end."

Iraola arrived on the south coast on a two-year deal in June 2023, inheriting a side which finished 15th under Gary O'Neil.

In his first season, he guided them to 12th, achieving a then-club high 48 points, and was rewarded with a contract extension until the end of 2025-26.

The following season, the Cherries finished ninth with a record 56 points and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

This campaign, Iraola has placed Bournemouth - who have never played continental football - right in the midst of a fierce battle for a place in Europe with a record 13 games unbeaten in the league (W6 D7).

With back-to-back wins against leaders Arsenal and Newcastle, the Cherries are level on 48 points with both Chelsea and Brentford, who sit sixth and seventh in European places.

Their run is all the more impressive considering the departures of key players Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo this season.

"I have no clue," Iraola told BBC Radio Solent when asked about his future. "I don't know if I'm going to coach next season. I have no rush to know it. The decision has not been affected by any other club."

But one thing is certain - the 43-year-old is unlikely to be out of work for long.

Read more on Iraola's future

Pundits Ashley Williams and Joe Hart join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leeds 3-0 Wolves

• Newcastle 1-2 Bournemouth

• Tottenham 2-2 Brighton

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, speaking to Sky Sports: "Very pleased, I think we played really well. We enjoyed playing it. At 1-1, the game changes which was expected, but we showed composure to keep playing and 2-1 is a lovely goal, and we deserved it.

"This is a very difficult place to come as an away team. They are so fast in the last line that you can lose those races, but overall we have defended really well.

On how far Bournemouth can go this season: "We are in a good place and arriving at an important part of the season. We are trying to keep this unbeaten run [going] as long as we can because the players have shown me they will take no days off. We tried to continue playing, keep the ball and I think that's the way the second goal has arrived."

Bournemouth winger Marcus Tavernier, speaking to Premier League Productions: "We're in great form, 13 unbeaten now. That's not lucky from us, we've worked hard and earned it on the training pitch."

On his goal: "The manager is always getting on to me about arriving at the back post."

On Adrien Truffert's goal: "Nothing better when the ball goes in the back of the net, he deserves it and I think that was his first goal."

On Bournemouth's good form: "We're performing consecutively for games and keeping our performances high and that's why we are doing well."

On boss Andoni Iraola announcing that he will leave: "Football changes thick and fast and it has made us want to compete more for the rest of the season. We want to achieve getting into Europe, it's tight in and around us at the moment."

Did you know?

• Bournemouth are unbeaten across their last 13 matches in the Premier League (W6 D7); both the longest current run without defeat in the top-flight and the Cherries' longest ever unbeaten run in the competition.

• Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier has scored six goals in the Premier League this term, his most across a single campaign in the competition. Indeed, it's as many strikes as he managed in the previous two seasons combined.

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola and his staff joked with Adrien Truffert that his first goal was coming after some impressive finishes in training on the eve of this game.

So it proved.

Judging by Truffert's wild celebrations, it was worth the wait as Bournemouth showed their mettle once more.

Some teams have folded after conceding an equaliser against Newcastle at St James' Park, but this Bournemouth side are resilient.

They were fresh from winning at Arsenal last week and this was another impressive victory.

Rather than retreating at 1-1, Bournemouth still sensed Newcastle had vulnerabilities and pushed for a winner.

Such a response was all the more impressive only days after Iraola confirmed he would be leaving at the end of his contract.

But his commitment and his players' commitment were never in doubt as they look to mount a late push for a European spot.

No wonder Iraola was serenaded by those Bournemouth supporters up in the gods at full-time.

This was worth the long trip.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Bournemouth's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Anthony Gordon misses out as Newcastle United make three changes for the visit of Bournemouth.

The forward is sidelined with a minor hip flexor issue while Joelinton is suspended.

Jacob Ramsey, Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes all come back into the side following last week's 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Miley, Tonali, Ramsey, Elanga, Osula, Barnes

Subs: Pope, Trippier, Wissa, J.Murphy, Woltemade, Willock, Burn, A.Murphy, Guimaraes

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola names an unchanged side for the trip to St James' Park.

The Spaniard has understandably stuck with the team who recorded an impressive 2-1 win against Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates last time out.

Today marks Iraola's first game since he announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Scott, Christie, Rayan, Kroupi, Tavernier, Evanilson

Subs: Mandas, Brooks, Adams, Adli, Smith, Unal, Gannon-Doak, Diakite, Toth

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on whether German boss Marco Rose would be a good fit for the Cherries.

Here are some of your comments:

Stewart: His style of play will fit the brief. My main concern is he has never managed outside of Germany and the Premier League is a very different beast to the Bundesliga. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Peter: Time will tell if Rose can fit into the shoes of the best manager we have ever had. Andoni Iraola is not easy to replace. He has been exceptional. The fans are very sad. But we are also thrilled that we have had three amazing years with a brilliant coach. I hope he enjoys his time with his family, which I think is what he wants to prioritise. We hope he returns many times to see the team play in the future.

Drew: Marco Rose is not well known by the average punter, but when you realise he was managing RB Salzburg in the Europa League when they played attractive, hyper-modern football, you can see why Bournemouth are thinking of hiring him.

Bazza: I think if we keep the backroom staff we will be fine. I've never heard of Rose before, but he's probably alright knowing how good our recruiting team.

Steve: I feel positive about this move. It seems the right fit tactically and Rose's record in Germany looks good. Even more important for me, strangely, is the process. It seems orderly and thought through, which is a change for Bournemouth, which has had a habit of reaching for the nearest available managerial option since Eddie Howe left. It's the sign of a steadier, more organised ship under our American owner, Bill Foley. That means that even if Rose doesn't work out, alternatives will have been identified. The Cherries recruitment team has done well with player signings, a new manager is their next big test.

Jack: Hopefully he does the Cherries well, but I'm not sure if he is the right choice for us.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brentford v Fulham (12:30)

• Leeds v Wolves (15:00) - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Bournemouth (15:00)

• Tottenham v Brighton (17:30) - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Chelsea v Man Utd (20:00)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Leeds v Wolves" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Brighton", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds