Kirsi: When Bill Foley bought the club in 2022 when we were in the relegation zone and promised European football, I honestly had a laugh. But now we have won our first game in Europe, I am just on cloud nine. The performance the lads produced was a perfect representation of our club's recent history, defying expectations and never giving up - even at rock bottom. What a performance. Should be the first win of many!
Ian: Are we still dreaming? 18 years ago on the brink, now winning in Europe! Up the Cherries.
Malcolm: Wow! You lads have made us all so very proud. An excellent first-half performance and then had to dig deep in the last 30 minutes. Petrovic in goal was outstanding but there were many top performers out on the pitch. Not a bad way to start your first European game. What a historic night.
For the vast majority of fans celebrating a famous victory on Thursday, the whole thing still seems surreal.
Just 18 years ago, the club was on the brink. A 10-point deduction for entering administration resulted in their relegation to League Two.
To even stay in the Football League for the 2008-09 season, they had to accept a 17-point deduction and agree not to appeal against the decision after it was ruled that, as they had been unable to agree a Company Voluntary Arrangement, they had not met their terms for exiting administration.
Thoughts of a £100m-rated midfielder picking out a Brazil winger to head Bournemouth to victory in Europe was the stuff of fantasy as the Dorset club battled for survival.
But that now is Bournemouth's reality with Alex Scott swaggering around San Sebastian, showing why there is such a clammer for his signature among top Premier League clubs, and Rayan providing another example of why the Cherries will demand every penny of a reported £130m release clause to let him go.
Bournemouth have nothing to compare it to, but this was a proper European away performance.
And listen to BBC Radio Solent's Cherries Unpicked podcast by hitting play below or on BBC Sounds here, as Jordan Clark and ex-Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels break down Thursday's historic win
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Bournemouth).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
'We want to push and do something special' - Scottpublished at 10:00 BST 18 September
10:00 BST 18 September
Image source, Getty Images
Cherries midfielder Alex Scott speaks to BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark after Bournemouth's first European win.
"It was tough out there. First half, I think we were brilliant. We really took the game to them," Scott said.
"Started quick, as we always do, and then the second half was a lot tougher. The fans got behind them, it was loud and they really pressed us.
"I think we did well in the end, secured the win, and yeah, I'm sure the fans are really happy.
"It's enjoyable. It's still like that in the Premier League when I get to play that every week. You still get that buzz and that feeling.
"A new competition for me and for the club and a lot of the lads in there. We're grateful to be here. We really want to push and do something special in this competition.
"Yesterday, I said to Rayan, 'if I get the ball in that area and look up, just run back post and I'll find you, like Everton last season'. It was so weird how I said that to him yesterday and it literally happened as I said it. It was one of those things where, yeah, a good ball and a good header.
"I know he's making that run all the time and he's unbelievable in the air. So a great goal from us and it was good to get a 2-0 lead."
Gossip: Arsenal keen on Kroupipublished at 08:11 BST 18 September
08:11 BST 18 September
Arsenal are extremely keen on a move for Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, 20, but the Cherries would expect a huge fee. (Football London, external)
Liverpool will have to pay the full £130m release clause to buy Rayan from the Cherries despite manager Andoni Iraola's relationship with the midfielder from his time at Bournemouth. (ESPN Brazil via Caught Offside, external)
'What a night and what a performance' - Daniels published at 22:51 BST 17 September
22:51 BST 17 September
Image source, Getty Images
Former Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels speaking on BBC Radio Solent after Bournemouth's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad: "What a night. What a performance. Had to dig in second half, the goalkeeper had to be called upon.
"But from Adam Smith walking the team out to David Brooks coming on in the 84th minute, every player has done their bit. They have worked their socks off and have performed on a European stage and gave Bournemouth their first win.
"I think Bournemouth deserved it. Especially from their first half showing. I would say up to 60 minutes, I thought they were outstanding. Like any team, Sociedad got the crowd behind them [towards the end] and that goal gave them massive momentum, but to see Bournemouth stick together, to fight for their lives and see it out, is such a special moment.
"It was very nerve wracking [being in the studio], let me tell you it's a lot easier playing than it is watching. Like I say, it was just those little bits when Sociedad was getting momentum, getting into Bournemouth's half, creating chances, getting corners and putting on the pressure, but to see everyone stand up, take ownership, put their bodies on the line and see it through was really good.
"It just shows the calibre of the players that Bournemouth have. Four internationals players that have been there, done it, and seen it. So they do not get fazed by these occasions and it showed on the pitch.
"Also the manager as well, has managed in the Europa League before so I think they were probably more comfortable with the situation than the fans and everyone else.
"It is a big occasion. A big moment for the club, and they should be applauded for it. They showed their brilliance in the first half, and they showed they can dig in during the second.
"I think Alex Scott, especially in the first half really ran the show. I thought Taviner and Kluivert were really good first half as well. Rayan too.
"But when push came to shove the goalkeeper Petrovic and Hill really stood up. I think this was the first time I have really seen Hill play. I thought he was really instrumental alongside Petrovic."
Real Sociedad 1-2 Bournemouth: What Rose and Smith saidpublished at 22:42 BST 17 September
22:42 BST 17 September
Media caption,
Bournemouth boss Marco Rose, speaking to TNT Sports: "It was very intense and tough. Brilliant first half in everything. The way we won balls and the possession high up. In the second half, we needed to suffer because we were not so sharp. We need to talk about the second half.
On the intensity: "That's Bournemouth football. We want to be active and defend forward. We want to create chances. We had a header to be 3-0 up. The game is 90 minutes and the first half was really brilliant.
On losing intensity: "It's not about the games because we didn't play so much so far, we just started. It's about the mindset. We lack a bit of intensity and if you lose this kind of thing in our style, then we know. If you get tired, then we need to change with substitutes.
"It's a brilliant win in our first European game. It's brilliant for the club and the 2000 fans from Bournemouth."
And listen to post-match reaction from captain Adam Smith, speaking to BBC Radio Solent, below or on BBC Sounds
Did you know?
Bournemouth have led in all six of their games in all competitions under Marco Rose, with this just their second win along with a 4-0 victory over Lincoln City in the EFL Cup.
Justin Kluivert became the scorer of Bournemouth's first ever goal in major European competition, while he's now scored in each of his last three starts, with his previous two coming for Roma in 2019-20.
Analysis: Bournemouth dazzle before digging inpublished at 22:29 BST 17 September
22:29 BST 17 September
Sam Drury BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
For 45 minutes, Bournemouth could have been forgiven for wondering what people meant by the challenges of European football as they threatened to run away with the game in San Sebastian.
They began confidently, passing the ball around sharply and quickly picking holes in the Sociedad defence.
Off the ball, they did not give their hosts a moment's peace, snapping into tackles and swarming all over them.
When Rayan nodded in the second, their momentum was such that the only question seemed to be how many they might score - with Scott running the show in midfield, Evanilson dragging the defence all over and Kluivert finding pockets of space with ease.
But Sociedad stayed in the game and from the flowing football of the first half, the second became about Bournemouth's grit.
The defence was tested time and again, and while not always entirely convincing, they kept Sociedad at bay more often than not.
On the occasions they didn't, Petrovic was there to rescue them with two vital saves from Oskarsson.
A European victory to cherish secured, Bournemouth can now look ahead to a reunion with the man who got them here as they prepare for the visit of Andoni Iraola's Liverpool on Sunday.
🎧 Bournemouth begin Europa League campaignpublished at 13:58 BST 17 September
13:58 BST 17 September
Media caption,
Bournemouth's Europa League opener against Real Sociedad is fast approaching.
BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark has been sampling the atmosphere in San Sebastian along with Bournemouth supporters, and has also spoken to Spanish journalist Jorge Serrano to get the lowdown on the Cherries' opponents.
From dumping wages into a bucket to dream European nightspublished at 13:35 BST 17 September
13:35 BST 17 September
Media caption,
Bournemouth fan Glen Cox has been reflecting on the Winter Gardens emergency bucket collection in 1997 and explaining its significance for the club's present success, as the Cherries prepare for Europa League football.
The club's hierarchy organised the collection in a last-ditch attempt to avoid financial ruin.
"I get quite emotional when I think back to it," Cox told BBC Radio Solent. "It didn't feel like it at the time, but it was such a momentous day in Bournemouth's history.
"I can remember all of my mates getting together and it was literally a case of us all putting in as much as we could afford. I can remember a guy getting out his week's wages and dumping it in the bucket.
"The club had made it clear that if the evening didn't result in a few quid being raised instantly, to say the least, then there was a very real chance we wouldn't have a club anymore.
"Everyone realised the severity of the situation, so they stepped up and did all they could to save the club.
"Looking at where we are right now, it is all quite incredible really. It feels like a dream, like something out of a movie I guess."
'The result of an awful lot of hard work over last 125 years'published at 11:18 BST 17 September
11:18 BST 17 September
Club historian Neil Vacher first went to watch Bournemouth in 1963 and has been discussing how the club has transformed, what playing in Europe means and the various roles he has held over the years - from PA announcer to club secretary.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "It's quite some story isn't it? If you tried to write it, people would say 'no this couldn't happen, you're in the realms of fantasy' - but it has happened and it is absolutely amazing.
"I think it's fair to say it's the result of an awful lot of hard work over the last 125 years - from the people who at one stage tried to keep the football club alive, right through to the current owner Bill Foley and what he is doing to advance the club."
Cherries 'looking forward to competing in this great competition' - Cookpublished at 19:08 BST 16 September
19:08 BST 16 September
Image source, Getty Images
Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook, says there are "new memories" to be made as the Cherries prepare for their first European campaign.
Marco Rose's side face Real Socidead on Thursday, and vice-captain Cook has reflected on the "journey" that has got Bournemouth to this moment.
"I was thinking back to when I first joined. It was 10 years ago now, when the club was in a different position - a good position - and then I think where it is now, it's amazing. It's been a journey," said Cook.
"There's been lots of people who have got us to this point and I think in the past few seasons we've really kicked on and are looking forward to the challenge of competing in this great competition.
"There's been a lot of excitement building around Bournemouth in the past few weeks and months and it's exciting for us as players, as staff and for a club as well. But, I feel like it gets to a point where the excitement has to stop, there has to be new memories made and we're coming here and we're going to try to compete as well as we can against a tough opposition."
Real Socidead were knocked out by Rose's Red Bull Salzburg outfit in 2017-18 in the last 32, but have reached the last 16 in their two most recent Europa League campaigns - 2022-23 and 2024-25.
Cook said: "They're a strong team, have technically got a lot of good players and they're in a very competitive league. They've got experience in this competition as well so I think it's going to be a tough game.
"The atmosphere is going to great for the fans here and it will be something we need to look forward to and challenge ourselves against opposition, different to the Premier League, but it will be a good game.
"We are very fortunate to have a manager who has experienced this a lot and we can lean on him in certain moments definitely."
Rose on Gannon-Doak, a 'special' European bow and Real Sociedadpublished at 18:21 BST 16 September
18:21 BST 16 September
Melissa Edwards BBC Sport journalist
Bournemouth boss Marco Rose has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League opener against Real Sociedad at Estadio Municipal de Anoeta (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Bournemouth are playing European football for the first time in the club's history and Rose said he can "feel how special this moment is" for the supporters.
He added: "This is a huge achievement and everyone deserved it. We're going to have 2,000 fans here tomorrow so it shows how big the club is and how the club grew the past couple of years. I'm really thankful to be the coach in this situation, even though I was not in the club last season. But I really appreciate getting this moment together with the lads, with the fans and with all the guys here from the staff."
Ben Gannon-Doak replaced the injured Eli Junior Kroupi in Bournemouth's Europa League squad this week. Rose said it was "tough" to leave the Scotland winger out initially, but he now has the opportunity to give them something "they don't have in the squad" already.
Rose also said they will go into the game "as strong as possible" but that fans can expect substitutions earlier in matches, as they begin to manage the workload increase of playing in an extra competition.
The German reached the semi-finals of this competition with Red Bull Salzburg in 2017-18 and he said the most important part of having a successful campaign is first "having a good start".
On Real Sociedad: "A strong team, high individual quality, a high intense team. It's going to be a tough challenge for us and Pellegrino [Matarazzo] is a really top coach. He stabilised the team and won the cup - that's why they are playing in this competition. He's well known in Germany for improving and developing teams. You can see he is the coach of this team when you see them playing. So, it's going to be a tough challenge but we feel we're in a good spot, we are quite confident and we are looking forward to starting this competition."
Rose's message to Cherries fans landing in San Sebastian on Wednesday: "Enjoy the evening, have some beers - but not too much because I think tomorrow morning the sunrise is very nice and you should see it. So, don't sleep too long because it's a special day tomorrow for everyone, especially for the guys here. To the guys at home, we are here and we are really proud to be here as a team and we're going to try to make the day and the evening special tomorrow for the club and for everyone who is a fan of Bournemouth."
'Something beyond anyone's imagination'published at 12:15 BST 16 September
12:15 BST 16 September
Bournemouth legend Steve Fletcher says seeing the Cherries make their European bow will be be a "very emotional" occasion.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "This is just something beyond anyone's imagination. I'm sure I speak for every Bournemouth fan, every generation past and present, it's going to be one of the most historic, momentous occasions in Bournemouth football club history - in 127 years.
"I've been on the south coast for 34 years, been involved with the football club for nearly 33 of those, so it'll be very emotional and I'm sure it will be for all our fans who have been through thick and thin, seen the ups and the downs and been there for many, many decades.
"There will be fans listening and maybe at the game who are in their 70s and maybe 80s if they can make it - they never thought we'd get out of League One, never mind be playing in Europe.
From Blyth to the Basque Country: Cherries break new groundpublished at 08:54 BST 16 September
08:54 BST 16 September
Mark Mitchener BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Sporting records are like piecrust: made to be broken. Aren't they?
As Bournemouth rose through the divisions, former manager Eddie Howe would make sure his squad were aware of when new landmarks were being set.
Before the Bolton game in 2015 which secured promotion to the Premier League, he showed his players a video of the club's history to that point, inspiring them to take that final step to the big time.
A decade later, Andoni Iraola would take great pride as his Cherries side eclipsed Howe's records of their highest top-flight points tallies and league placings, with a sixth-placed finish last term unlocking the door to Europe.
When Marco Rose's Cherries kick off against Real Sociedad in the Europa League in the Basque Country on Thursday evening, a record will be broken, San Sebastian overtaking Blyth as the furthest Bournemouth have ever travelled for a competitive match.
"Blyth Spartans" are two words which still strike terror into long-standing Cherries supporters, evoking memories of 16 December 2008, one of the darkest nights in the club's history.
In an FA Cup replay broadcast live to the nation on Setanta Sports, the Dorset side lost captain Shaun Cooper to injury after nine minutes, lost substitute Brett Pitman to a straight red card five minutes after he came on, and lost the game to a late goal by Blyth substitute Ged Dalton, a student who did not even train full-time with the Conference North giant-killers.
Blyth is north of Newcastle and further from Bournemouth than Carlisle, and it was a long journey back for the away supporters whose side at the time was teetering on the brink of relegation to non-league football, and/or potential financial oblivion.
Thankfully for those who kept the faith, AFC Bournemouth are now largely unrecognisable as a club from those days - and rather than planning trips to Blyth or Carlisle, their Europa away games will take them to Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Celta Vigo and Lillestrom.
Image source, Getty Images
