Bournemouth will be aiming to kick on in the Premier League this season with new manager Andoni Iraola at the helm after safely avoiding relegation danger under Gary O'Neil last term.

Manager: Andoni Iraola
Stadium: Vitality Stadium
Captain: Neto
Top League Scorer last season: Philip Billing (7)
Last season's finish: 15th
 

Bournemouth 2023/24 odds

To Finish in Top Half - 8/1
To Finish in Bottom Half - 1/14
Not to be Relegated - 4/11
To be Relegated - 2/1
To Finish Bottom - 8/1
 

Bournemouth's 2022/23 performance

Widely tipped to go straight back down after minimal investment in the transfer market following their promotion from the Championship, Bournemouth were able to upset the odds to finish safely afloat of the relegation zone in 15th last term.

Starting the campaign under Scott Parker, the Cherries suffered three emphatic defeats in their opening four matches - 4-0 away to Man City, 3-0 at home to Arsenal and a crushing 9-0 defeat at Anfield against Liverpool - leading to the ex-England midfielder losing his job.

A member of Parker's coaching staff, ex-Middlesbrough and West Ham midfielder Gary O'Neil was installed as caretaker manager at the Vitality Stadium, beginning his tenure with an impressive six-match unbeaten run to steer Bournemouth well clear of the relegation places.

O'Neil was eventually hired on a permanent basis in November, and with money to spend in January following an American takeover by a consortium including Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan, Bournemouth were able to pick up the results required in the second half of the season to avoid a relegation battle with relative comfort.
 

Bournemouth's 2023/24 prospects

Taking the surprise decision to remove O'Neil as manager despite his ability to lead the club to Premier League survival, Bournemouth appear to be moving in a new direction with Rayo Vallecano boss Andoni Iraola appointed as the Englishman's replacement.

The Cherries have invested heavily in young up-and-coming talent from across Europe, with Marcos Senesi, Dango Ouattara and Ilya Zabarnyi brought in for around £55m over the course of last season and Justin Kluivert, Hamed Traore and Milos Kerkez signed this summer for a further outlay in the region of £45m.

This level of expenditure in the transfer market is a clear signal of Bournemouth's ambition, with the club's hierarchy appearing to be keen to emulate the kind of model which has proved so effective for the likes of Brentford and Brighton in the Premier League - focused on recruiting and developing highly-rated young players.

Bournemouth will therefore be striving to make headway in the top flight in the upcoming campaign under the tutelage of Iraola, himself one of the most highly rated young coaches in Europe, and be closer to the mid-table positions than the relegation zone come May.
 

Bournemouth manager - Andoni Iraola

Having garnered a reputation as one of the most promising managers in Spain in recent years after helping Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano punch above their weight, reaching the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey with both clubs, Bournemouth's appointment of Andoni Iraola appears a coup for the Cherries,

A disciple of Marcelo Bielsa, who was his manager during his playing days at Athletic Bilbao, Iraola is a progressive coach with an attacking philosophy revolving around an intense pressing game and emphasis upon counter-attacks.

Iraola's profile therefore renders him an ideal fit for the forward-thinking direction the Bournemouth board seem keen on heading down, with a squad comprised of young and hungry players striving to take their game to the next level in the Premier League.

It will be fascinating to see how the Spaniard's ideas transfer to the English game, with the 40-year-old set to become the fourth Basque manager in the Premier League - alongside Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Julen Lopetegui.
 

Bournemouth Key Player - Dominic Solanke

An academy product of Chelsea, Dominic Solanke was rated as one of the most talented young players in the country as a teenager - awarded the Golden Ball as England's Under 20s won the World Cup in South Korea in 2017.

Despite his promise at youth level, Solanke struggled to make an impact in his early years as a professional. Transferring to Liverpool from Chelsea in 2017, Solanke scored just one Premier League goal in 21 appearances for the Reds before making the move to Bournemouth in 2019.

His struggles in front of goal continued on the south coast, netting just three times in 33 matches as the Cherries were eventually relegated from the Premier League in 2020.

At this point maligned as a player unable of cutting it at top flight level, Solanke was able to rebuild his confidence in the Championship - registering an impressive 44 goals across two seasons as Bournemouth earned promotion back to the Premier League last season.

Solanke's renaissance continued in the Premier League last term, demonstrating his all-round skillset as he registered 13 goal contributions in 33 matches - six goals and seven assists.

Now 25, Solanke will be aiming to kick on again under an attack-minded manager in the form of Iraola as the focal point of this Bournemouth side, potentially with an eye on forcing his way back into the international fold ahead of next summer's Euros having received one cap for England back in 2017.
 

Bournemouth One to Watch - Milos Kerkez

Part of an improving generation of Hungarian footballers, with the national team currently sat top of their qualifying group for next summer's Euros, 19-year-old left-back Milos Kerkez enjoyed an outstanding breakout season with AZ Alkmaar last term.

Registering 12 goal contributions in all competitions last term - only four players aged 18 or younger at the start of the season in Europe's top 15 leagues managed more - Kerkez was a shining light in an AZ team that finished fourth in the Eredivisie and reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

A full-blooded and dynamic left-back, Bournemouth were able to beat Serie A side Lazio to the signing of Kerkez, making a bold statement of the vision the Cherries have to provide young players from across Europe the chance to shine in the Premier League.
 

Bournemouth transfers

In:

• Hamed Junior Traore (Sassuolo - £20m)
• Milos Kerkez (AZ Alkmaar - £15.5m)
• Romain Faivre (Lyon - £12.8m)
• Justin Kluivert (Roma - £10.25m)

Out:

• Ben Pearson (Stoke City - Undisclosed)
• Siriki Dembele (Birmingham City - Undisclosed)
• Christian Saydee (Portsmouth - Undisclosed)
• Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace - Free)
• Jordan Zemura (Udinese - Free)
• Jack Stacey (Norwich - Free)
• Romain Faivre (FC Lorient - Loan)
• Will Dennis (Kilmarnock - Loan)
• Junior Stanislas (End of contract)
   

Bournemouth potential XI

(4-3-3): Neto (c), Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez, Rothwell, Traore, Billing, Kluivert, Solanke, Tavernier.

Bournemouth opening fixtures

Bournemouth's opening six Premier League fixtures for the 2023/24 season are as follows:

• 12th August - West Ham (H)
• 19th August - Liverpool (A)
• 26th August - Tottenham (H)
• 2nd September - Brentford (A)
• 17th September - Chelsea (H)
• 24th September - Brighton (A)
   

Bournemouth - last five seasons

The below table illustrates Bournemouth's league finishes over the past five seasons:

Season	League finish
2022/23	15th (Premier League)
2021/22	2nd (Championship)
2020/21	6th (Championship)
2019/20	18th (Premier League)
2018/19	12th (Premier League)

View all Bournemouth Premier League 2023/24 odds

Odds correct at time of publishing and subject to change.