Bournemouth face a challenge that few would have imagined a decade ago: balancing the demands of the Premier League with a first European campaign. It's another landmark in their remarkable rise, but sustaining this progress will be even harder.
That's especially true as Andoni Iraola has left, marking the end of the club's most successful chapter yet. Bournemouth, however, are accustomed to managing change.
The appointment of Marco Rose reflects a club that plans ahead, and there is confidence that the foundations built in recent years can withstand another transition.
Bournemouth prepare for their busiest season yet, without the guidance of the man who took them there - 2026-27 season preview
The biggest question concerns depth. Thursday-night football will place fresh demands on a squad that has already lost key players, making recruitment and rotation crucial decisions.
Bournemouth's first-choice XI has shown that it can compete with anyone; how this squad manages to cope with the additional workload could define their campaign.
Ambitions continue to grow on and off the pitch, including plans to expand the Vitality Stadium and increase capacity beyond its current 12,000.
Bournemouth are still one of the Premier League's smallest clubs by most traditional measures, yet the mood around Dorset is one of optimism.
The target is no longer to merely establish themselves in the top flight, but to prove they belong among its most progressive clubs.
The Coach
Iraola is a tough act to follow, but Marco Rose arrives with Champions League pedigree from Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, plus a reputation for developing elite young talent. He's a good tactical fit, too. Can he preserve the Cherries' upward trajectory?
Key Player
Alex Scott, 22, has long been viewed as a future England international, and interest from elsewhere has been growing in recent months. If he stays and Rose can unlock his potential in the final third, the midfielder will have all of the tools to be Bournemouth's driving force.
Last Season's Results
PREMIER LEAGUE: 6th
FA CUP: Third Round
LEAGUE CUP: Second Round
Top Scorer
Eli Junior Kroupi bagged 13 goals in all competitions for Bournemouth last season.
The Cherries will be without their star bagsman for three to four months, after suffering a foot injury in pre-season.
Lessons From Last Year
Fast finishes can't always erase slow starts. Once Iraola's pressing game clicked, Bournemouth could trouble anyone, but their early inconsistency left them chasing – though that was hardly surprising, given the turnover of players last summer.
If the Cherries can begin 2026-27 with the same intensity and clarity shown in the spring, European qualification becomes a more realistic target. Rose's early appointment should help.
Most Likely To...
Turn your corner into their counter. Bournemouth are one of the most aggressive transition teams in the league, able to transform a routine interception into a clear chance in seconds. That won't change under Rose, who has spent most of his coaching career in the high-press, high-energy Red Bull setup – first in Salzburg, later at Leipzig.
Least Likely To...
Panic when someone leaves for a bigger club. Losing key figures has become part of life for the Cherries, and they have set the benchmark in succession planning.
View From The Stands
Words by: SAM DAVIS - @afcbpodcast
Last season was bizarre but brilliant – a pulsating start, a dreadful run, then half a season unbeaten.
The big talking point is our managerial switch. Andoni Iraola deciding to leave is a big loss, but his replacement, Marco Rose, has good pedigree.
Our key player will be Alex Scott. The Guernsey Grealish has it all.
The active player I'd love to have back is Antoine Semenyo – although we haven't actually lost a league game since he left for Man City in January.
Look out for James Hill. For a £1m signing from Fleetwood Town, the boy has bags of potential.
The departing player I'm saddest about is Marcos Senesi. He was superb.
Fans think our owner is delivering in every single department: new training ground, ongoing stadium redevelopment, and now Europe within four years after promising it in five.
The one change I'd make at our club would be a tangible matchday ticket. You can't stick a QR code in your scrapbook.
A social media account to follow is Alexander Smith (@AlexSmithEcho). I've never seen a sports writer work so hard.
The pantomime villain will be Richard Keys. Not so long ago, he said, “There is no ‘next level' for Bournemouth – this is it.” We'll reminisce on that soundbite over a beer in some European square.
We'll finish 13th, as we manage Europe. Playing more, increasingly intense games, against better opponents, the squad will be tested more than ever.
Fixtures
AUGUST
23 Man City (A)
29 Everton (H)
SEPTEMBER
5 Newcastle (A)
12 Brentford (H)
19 Liverpool (H)
OCTOBER
10 Chelsea (A)
17 Sunderland (H)
24 Man United (A)
31 Leeds (H)
NOVEMBER
7 Ipswich (A)
21 Nott'm Forest (H)
28 Fulham (A)
DECEMBER
2 Brighton (H)
5 Hull City (H)
12 Arsenal (A)
19 Coventry (H)
26 Tottenham (A)
30 Crystal Palace (A)
JANUARY
2 Aston Villa (H)
6 Brighton (A)
16 Ipswich (H)
23 Nott'm Forest (A)
30 Fulham (H)
FEBRUARY
6 Leeds (A)
10 Aston Villa (A)
20 Crystal Palace (H)
27 Coventry (A)
MARCH
3 Tottenham (H)
13 Newcastle (H)
20 Brentford (A)
APRIL
10 Man City (H)
17 Everton (A)
24 Arsenal (H)
MAY
1 Hull City (A)
8 Man United (H)
15 Sunderland (A)
23 Chelsea (H)
30 Liverpool (A)
Title Odds
Bournemouth to win the 2026/27 Premier League title odds: 300/1
FFT Verdict
FourFourTwo verdict: Bournemouth to finish 11th.
For two years, Bournemouth have performed like a top-six side while losing great players. Can they do it after losing a great manager? Rose should slot in well, but the Europa League will limit his training time.
This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.
