Key Takeaways
- AFC Bournemouth have agreed in principle to hire German coach Marco Rose.
- Rose, 49, is free after leaving RB Leipzig in March and can start work at once.
- He will replace Andoni Iraola, who will exit when his deal ends this summer.
AFC Bournemouth are ready to hand the reins to Marco Rose for next season. Talks with the German tactician have gone well and a basic deal is now in place.
Rose has been without a club since March, so no compensation is needed. That fact helped Bournemouth’s head of football operations, Tiago Pinto, act fast once current boss Andoni Iraola said he wants a new challenge.
The club first looked at Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, but his large release clause forced them to switch targets. Rose, who has taken three Bundesliga sides to the Champions League, became the clear choice.
Iraola will leave a solid base. The Cherries shocked Arsenal last weekend and still dream of a first-ever European spot, even after selling key defenders and January star Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City.
Smart signings have kept the squad strong. Rose’s first task may be to fend off bids for midfield linchpin Alex Scott, wanted by Chelsea and others.
The 49-year-old has previously worked with top talents like Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund, and also managed Borussia Mönchengladbach and Red Bull Salzburg.