THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
THE CLUB THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST
In 2008 Bournemouth were in the fourth tier, docked 17 points for entering administration, with fans passing buckets to pay the bills. Eddie Howe, a 31-year-old former defender for the club, took over and led three promotions in six years, reaching the Premier League in 2015 from an 11,000-seat ground.
THE CURVE
Under Andoni Iraola they finished 12th, then ninth, then sixth in 2025-26: their best season and first European qualification. They did it after selling Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez and Ouattara in one summer.
THE SALE
In January City paid £64m for Antoine Semenyo, scorer of nearly a third of Bournemouth's goals. Sixth place held anyway.
THE MANAGER
In June Liverpool took Iraola. Bournemouth had signed his successor in April: Marco Rose, twice a champion at Salzburg, a cup winner with Leipzig and a former Dortmund coach. Number 6 in THE COUNTDOWN.
MORE FROM THE COUNTDOWN
THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
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