Bournemouth Close to Appointing Marco Rose as New Head Coach
Bournemouth are in advanced negotiations to appoint Marco Rose as their new head coach, with sources confirming the club is closing in on the former RB Leipzig boss to replace Andoni Iraola, who will depart at the complete of the season.
Iraola announced on Monday he would leave Bournemouth upon the expiration of his contract, having joined the club in June 2023. Under his leadership, the Cherries finished 12th in the 2023-24 Premier League season, ninth in 2024-25, and are currently 11th in the table as of April 2026, just three points from sixth place and unbeaten in their last 12 matches.
Rose, 49, has been without a club since being sacked by RB Leipzig in March 2025. His coaching career includes successful spells at Red Bull Salzburg, where he won the Austrian Bundesliga in two seasons, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig, where he won the DFB-Pokal in 2023. He began his coaching journey in 2012 with Lokomotive Leipzig’s academy setup before rising through the ranks at Salzburg.
The German tactician has been admired by Bournemouth’s hierarchy for some time and was identified as a leading candidate alongside Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna. While McKenna remains under contract until 2028, Rose’s availability and extensive Bundesliga experience have made him the preferred choice.
Sources told ESPN that Bournemouth are in discussions with Rose on personal terms, though no agreement has been finalised and no announcement is expected this week. The club confirmed Iraola’s departure on April 14, stating it was the “right moment to step away” after three seasons at the Vitality Stadium.
Iraola, 43, said he has not yet lined up another role but acknowledged ongoing conversations with the club about his future. He has been linked with a return to Athletic Club Bilbao and interest from other Premier League sides.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Iraola commented on the club’s interest in Rose: “I know him but speak about other managers. Because I speak with the club, I have some information. I’ve heard names but it’s a decision that they have to make. And, whoever they decide, whenever they decide to sign the new manager, you can question me about whoever comes and I will try to give my opinion.”
The appointment of Rose would mark his first managerial role in English football. Known for his high-intensity, pressing style developed within the Red Bull football network, he is seen as a tactical fit for Bournemouth’s evolving identity under new leadership.
As negotiations continue, Bournemouth aim to have a successor in place before the end of the current campaign to ensure a smooth transition ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season.