Marco Rose speaks for the first time on the decision to become the new head coach of AFC Bournemouth, replacing Andoni Iraola.
The 49 year old talked about his style of play, the club’s identity and ambitions of what he wants to achieve at he begins his tenure at the Cherries.
He has signed a three-year contract, with Iraola saying Bournemouth is in safe hands, and that he has always liked his teams, having previously managed RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, RB Salzburg and Lokomotive Leipzig.
Interviewer: Marco, welcome to AFC Bournemouth. Congratulations on the new role. First of all, what was it about this club in particular that drew you in and made you want to take this role?
Marco: First of all, want to say congratulations to everyone who is involved or connected with the club. It was an amazing, outstanding, special, incredible, historic season. I think with an historic outcome. Everyone here did a great job. The employees, the lads, the staff and the fans, of course. And yeah, now I’m looking forward to work together and to accomplish next season maybe other big, big things.
Interviewer: So you mentioned the great success there. You’ve obviously been watching from afar. It must be a good thing that you’ve been able to have time to watch the team and how they operate, but also it must be a bit of a weird situation. Just talk us through that.
MaMarcoco: Yeah, you are right. So we had many, many talks. So when we came in touch, I’ve had the time to get used to the team, to see, to watch games and to be honest, I became really soon a big fan of the team, the way they played, the approach they showed to compete in the Premier League. A front-footed proactive approach with high intensity. And even on TV you could feel the energy in home games, away games, everywhere. And yeah, I got a big, big fan of the team.
Interviewer: Is that one of the big things that you want to continue, that sort of front foot cavalier mentality?
Marco: Yeah, I’m not here to explain everyone how it works in football. I saw and I feel that everyone here is high committed, is high professional and high motivated. I’m here to learn, I’m here to give a direction, that’s for sure. But we’re going to do it uh together and I think the foundation is great. We have a high quality team, we have this environment. The approach of the club to find a coach who em is committed in the style of football because the club has an identity, built an identity how to compete in the Premier League. And it’s, as I said, proactive, front-footed um offensive. And that’s what we’re going to maintain. We try to train and play like this. We are going to maybe adjust a couple of small things, but the approach stays the same.
Interviewer: Have you spoken to Andoni Iraola? And if you have spoken to him, what sort of report did he give you?
Marco: If we finish here, I will have a talk with Andoni. We wrote some messages and I admire his work. He did a great, great job. I know that when he came here, the start was not perfect, but the direction he gave the team and the club is really incredible and as I said, I’m a top coach, top person I have to say and I don’t know if it’s the right word, was a stroke of luck to have him here.
Interviewer: And can you just tell us about some of the people who will be joining you in your coaching team and your backroom staff?
Marco: There are two assistant coaches, Marco, like me, Marco Kurth and Frank Geideck. I met them in Leipzig, or Frank Geideck, Monchengladbach. I bring an analysis guy with me. But for me it’s very important that everyone knows here that again we don’t come to explain something, we come here to work together. So for me, it’s uh very important that we get very soon a perfect team who’s working together in the same direction with a high energy. And that’s what we try to do.
Interviewer: You’ve obviously worked in Europe’s top leagues and top competitions. How much are you looking forward to working in the Premier League?
Marco: The Premier League is the best league in the world. That’s I’ve heard and that’s what I see and that’s what I feel. for me it’s really special to come here to join the Premier League with a top team. um The Premier League is the most competitive league. The Premier League is the league with the highest individual quality, with the highest intensity and I’m really looking forward to measure with the best teams in the world.
Interviewer: You mentioned there the intensity of the Premier League, juggling that with the European season, you’ve got experience of doing that before, just how tough is that challenge but exciting is that challenge of meshing league and European football?
Marco: That’s getting our challenge, to play Premier League, the toughest competition in the world and European football. If you have to bring it together, it’s really hard and really tough. We need to be smart. We have to talk about the squad and it’s getting an exciting journey. And I think it’s a really big and beautiful opportunity for us to show our club, to show Bournemouth in Europe. But on the other side, it’s getting a tough, tough challenge.
Interviewer: All the fans are so excited. It’s the first time this club has experienced European football and it’s 127 years history. You must be so excited to be the man that is leading that first season in European football.
Marco: Don’t put so much pressure on me. Yes, it is and um I’m really thankful about it. I’ve heard many things about the history of the club. I’ve heard about the problems in the 90s that the club didn’t know where to train. They trained on schools in parks or something like this. I’ve heard about the Winter Garden nights where fans tried to help make the club surviving with collecting money, kids collected money. I’ve heard about Steve Fletcher and saw his celebration of goals. Really impressive man and he’s still in the club. That’s what I heard. Yeah, it’s unbelievable if you see what happened the last 10-15 years. Of course, know that Eddie Howe was a very important person in the history of the club because he kept the club into the League One and then they promoted it into the Championship and in the Premier League. And then he made it possible to play Europe. I think this was the goal of Bill when he started here. Now we have to continue this work, hard work, but we should enjoy this journey as well.
Interviewer: You’ve done some very good research about the club off the pitch, that’s really impressive. On the pitch you’ve had a good chance to watch us play. You mentioned there the front foot mentality was what impressed you most. What other things impressed you? Was it more the character of the team and obviously what they’ve achieved is so special?
Marco: Yeah the character, if you see how the guys are working together, body language and things like this, what you can see on TV and of course I analyse every game I saw, the attitude, how they deal with goals against if you are up or down. Just the way they managed a game and you can see that we have really a lot of individual quality, have talented players, we have experienced players, we have a great captain, our goalkeeper made a good progression during the season. So you can see that we are still in the process, but already on a high level and it’s really exciting to start.
Interviewer: What is Marco Rose like on the training pitch for his players?
Marco: For me the best place to be as a coach, not in the office. I love to be on the pitch. I’m an intensive coach, sometimes a little bit over it, you know, but I try to be always fair and it’s about the players. It’s a players’ game. So, yeah, we need to build a connection. For me, a club and a team is made by the people. That’s what you feel here with the people around. That’s what we have to do and what we have to maintain on the pitch as well.
Interviewer: How would people describe you away from football? Do you have a life outside of football? Are you a coach that is just so focused on the football?
Marco: To be honest, if you are in charge, it’s really hard to find time beside the football. I’m 49 now, getting 50. And I have experienced a lot of things, but it’s still very demanding to lead a team, to bring out the best possible performance out of the team. it needs time and you’re responsible for a whole club, for the atmosphere and things like this. But if I’m free, I go for a round of golf. That’s what I love. That’s what I started four years ago. Of course, I have a family, two girls with our cat, three girls. My daughter, 18 in February. My wife, she is a lawyer and I try to spend as times as possible with my family.
Interviewer: And we’re a very family-based club, so that’s a good fit.
Marco: Yeah, and that’s what I felt from the first moment, from the first talk, that, again, Tiago, Bill, they are great human beings, and they have a plan, they’re ambitious, and I’m still impressed about the process we had together. And to be honest, was very soon. I’m very committed with the idea and the team here and that’s why I love to be here.
Interviewer: Just finally Marco, just a message to the supporters who are perhaps excited, intrigued by your appointment, just a message to those fans.
Marco: Yeah, maybe as you can see, I’m a little bit nervous with my first club interview, but I love to be here. And I can’t wait to dive into the region, to get to know the people, the fans, come in touch with the people and the fans, because I think that’s the most important thing in football, to have connections, to do the things together, to create an atmosphere valuable with high respect and ambitions. Yeah, that’s why I’m here. And again, thanks for the warm welcome to everyone here. And I’m looking forward to try to give everything and not try to give everything. We’re going to give everything and achieve other good things for the club.
Here’s how fans reacted as Marco Rose speaks for the first time on the decision to become new Bournemouth head coach…
#afcb
You just don’t see this in football
Outgoing manager meeting with the incoming manager to discuss the team, the club and other details
Our club is so special
When Andoni met Marco https://t.co/ASJW3oa0VL— Byron Riley (@RileyByron37817) June 4, 2026
@Liam_AFCB: Ok I’m invested
@GuyN72: Usually a new #afcb manager fills me with a mix of mild excitement & high trepidation. For some bizarre reason, I’m only excited about this. Looking forward to seeing him in Frankfurt next May holding the UEL trophy. I just hope he’s still our manager…. 😉
@arnoldsavoir: Yes. Let’s fucking do it 👊👊🍒🍒🍒 #afcb
@PETEEAST3: Ok we’re winning the lot 🤣🍒 #afcb
@KirkTovey: Hi new gaffer 👋 Spoke very well in first interview. I have good initial vibes about the appointment. 🍒 #afcb
@DavidCockram: Great interview. Liked what I saw and heard. 🍒
@SBurke10: Welcome to the club Marco. He’s definitely done his research. The future is bright ❤️🍒
