BOURNEMOUTH are closing in on the appointment of Marco Rose as their next manager, with the German emerging as the clear frontrunner to replace Andoni Iraola.
Iraola confirmed earlier this week that he will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing an end to a widely praised three-year spell on the South Coast.
Rose during his time at RB Leipzig looks on during a Champions League match against Celtic Credit: Kenny Ramsay
Rose’s appointment will likely get a round of applause from Bournemouth fans Credit: EPA
The Basque boss, 43, admitted the decision had not been straightforward but insisted it was the right time to step away while still feeling a strong sense of satisfaction with his work.
Iraola said: “It hasn’t been a clear decision. There is no one main reason. We are human beings, we get tired, and I decided it was the right moment to put an end to this journey.”
Iraola is set to leave Bournemouth at the end of this season Credit: Getty
Kieran McKenna was also in the run-in to replace Iraola, but looks set to stay at Ipswich Credit: Alamy
With keen to move swiftly, attention quickly turned to potential successors. Both Rose and current Ipswich boss were under serious consideration, but the latter now appears out of the running.
Former first team coach McKenna initially , but has publicly distanced himself from the Bournemouth job, stressing his full focus remains on guiding his side through a crucial stage of their season.
McKenna : “I have got no interest in discussing or thinking about that at the moment.
“It’s an important time for us here and we will focus on our goals and I will focus on such an important stage of the season.”
That stance, combined with his long-term contract running until 2028, has effectively cleared the path for Bournemouth to accelerate talks with Rose, who is currently out of work following his departure from last year.
Discussions are understood to be progressing over personal terms, with Bournemouth hopeful of finalising a deal in the coming days.
Rose’s availability, coupled with his extensive experience across top European leagues, has made him an attractive option for the club’s hierarchy.
The 49-year-old boasts an impressive managerial CV, having previously led RB Salzburg, Borussia Monchengladbach and .
His time in Austria with RB Salzburg yielded back-to-back league titles and a domestic double, while he later guided Leipzig to DFB-Pokal success in 2023.
Rose then crossed the border over to Germany, where he managed Monchengladbach – signing and developing the likes of Marcus Thuram and Breel Embolo.
A chaotic season in Dortmund followed as his side scored 85 league goals – their best tally since 1952/53. Of those goals, 29 (26%) of them were scored by a certain .
Rose has played a big role in the development of one of modern football’s greatest goalscorers in Erling Haaland Credit: Getty
Rose, who was before Igor Tudor took interim charge following ‘s sacking, has built a reputation for developing squads amid constant turnover.
This trait that aligns with Bournemouth’s model. At Leipzig, he secured a back-to-back top-four finishes in 2022/23 and 2023/24 despite overseeing the departures of several key players including Josko Gvardiol, Christopher Nkunku, , Alexander Sorloth, Konrad Laimer.
In turn, Rose integrated a new generation of talent – names such as , Xavi Simons, Lois Openda and Antonio Nusa.
He also brought silverware to Leipzig, winning both the German Cup and German Super Cup in 2023.
In the German Cup final, they won 2-0 against an Eintracht Frankfurt side managed by Oliver Glasner. While in the latter, they beat 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick.
Current Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai scored for RB Leipzig when they won the 2023 German Cup final under Rose Credit: AFP
Crucially, his tactical philosophy mirrors many of the principles instilled by Iraola. Both managers favour high-intensity pressing and attack minded .
That stylistic continuity is believed to be a key factor behind Bournemouth’s preference, as the club looks to maintain the identity that has underpinned their recent progress.
Marco Rose will be keen to get started ahead of an exciting chapter Credit: AP
Iraola, meanwhile, is expected to attract significant interest once he departs, with a return to his beloved Athletic Club among the possibilities.
For Bournemouth, however, the focus is firmly on the future and all indications suggest that future will be led by Rose.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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