The Continued Rise of AFC Bournemouth

From losing their main figurehead who had pioneered the club's success, to one of the most incredible comeback seasons coming from an unlikely hero, this is the continued rise of AFC Bournemouth.

Bournemouth’s legendary story of struggling to remain in the football league, to three promotions in six years reaching the Premier League for the first time in the club's history, is a tale that has been told over and over again. No matter how impressive their rise was, the story of Bournemouth after the fairytale ended is just as interesting. 

From losing their main figurehead who had pioneered the club's success, to one of the most incredible comeback seasons coming from an unlikely hero, this is the continued rise of AFC Bournemouth. 

The Eddie Howe era

Eddie Howe was synonymous with Bournemouth, overseeing the club's rise from the fourth division of English Football, League Two, to League One, and at the end of the 2014/15 season, he guided them to the top of the Championship with an impressive 90-point season that saw the Cherries win the league and be promoted to the Premier League for the first time in their history. 

During the first season in the Premier League most would have expected Bournemouth to go straight back down, but in a season of miracles that saw Leicester win the Premier League, Bournemouth defied the odds and managed to stay in the top division of English football. 

Bournemouth followed up their first season in the Premier League with an incredible top-half finish that remains the Cherries’ highest league finish to date.

The end of the Eddie Howe era

Following their highest finish in the league, Bournemouth would begin sliding down the table, with the following two seasons ending in 12th and 14th-placed finishes. When the 2019/20 season came around, Eddie Howe lost his main defender Tyrone Mings, and without bolstering the attack Bournemouth simply did not have the goals capable of keeping them safe. This partnered with a weak defence meant that disaster loomed for the Cherries.

Despite fighting to the final day, Bournemouth would be relegated just one point from safety. Eddie Howe would remain in charge of the side he played a massive role in creating, whilst other clubs sacked managers after a few bad months, the Cherries remained loyal to Howe. Until August 1st of the following season when the two parted ways.

Return to the Premier League

Following their relegation to the Championship, Bournemouth would hand the reigns of the club over to Eddie Howe's long-term assistant Jason Tindall. Tindall would remain in charge until February 2021, over halfway through the season before being sacked for poor results that saw the Cherries sitting 6th - not where the club expected. The club would hire Jonathan Woodgate as the manager for the remainder of the season. 

Woodgate would fail to get the club promoted, finishing 6th, the same place the Cherries were when he took over. This placed Bournemouth in the play-offs where the winner would secure the vital third promotion place. Unfortunately, the club would be beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Brentford, who would then go on to beat Swansea City in the final and be promoted.

This meant another season of Championship football for Bournemouth and would also see Woodgate lose his job. The next season would be far more of a success with Scott Parker taking over and leading the Cherries to a second-placed finish and promotion back to the Premier League. 

The summer transfer window was an opportunity for Bournemouth to spend big and make an effort to stay in the league. However, the club only brought in two starting players and left Parker with very little to work with. The lack of spending showed and following a 9-0 humiliation to Liverpool, Parker would be sacked just a month into the season. 

O'Neil takes charge!

Lying 16th in the table, many believed Bournemouth's relegation was sealed when they turned to caretaker manager Gary O’Neil over the likes of Marcelo Bielsa. O’Neil had a gigantic task ahead of him, but he managed to keep Bournemouth in the Premier League, finishing 15th and five points clear of relegation. 

The feat was lauded by fans of not only Bournemouth but football as a whole. However, football is a cruel game and Gary O’Neil would be sacked at the end of the season. The reason for this was that Bournemouth did not have faith that O’Neil could replicate his triumph in keeping Bournemouth safe, and also a man became available that they just could not turn down.

A new era

Bournemouth have started the 2023/24 season with a completely new style and for the first time in their history, they have appointed a manager from outside the British Isles in Andoni Iraola. 

Iraola comes with a reputation for playing exciting attacking football, following his contract expiring at Rayo Vallecano, a club that he had guided to an 11th-placed finish with a tiny budget making him the perfect candidate to take over Bournemouth.

This summer, Bournemouth has spent big and brought in quality players to bolster their ranks, with players such as Justin Kluivert, son of Patrick Kluivert and Hamed Junior Traore adding particular quality in attack. 

Whether the new Bournemouth will make a mainstay in the Premier League is still yet to be seen. However, with the owners spending money and a fresh new attacking identity, the fans love the football on display which could lead to the continued rise of AFC Bournemouth.