Andoni Iraola has spoken openly about wanting to write one final, historic chapter before he departs Bournemouth at the end of the season — and few neutrals with any appreciation for football's underdog story would begrudge him it.

The Basque coach, who took charge at the Vitality Stadium in 2023 following Gary O'Neil's departure, confirmed this week that finishing in a European position would be the "best way" to bring down the curtain on what has quietly become one of the more remarkable managerial tenures the Premier League has seen in recent years. His contract expires in the summer, and he will leave.

"It would be the best way to finish these amazing three seasons," Iraola said. "Especially this year, it has been really challenging for me as a coach because we've changed the team a lot and we've changed, not completely our style, but it's a different type of football comparing to last season. It would be the best way to end it."

History within touching distance

In 127 years of existence, Bournemouth have never played in European competition. Not once. That context alone makes the current moment feel genuinely extraordinary for a club that spent long stretches of its existence scrapping around the lower reaches of the Football League.

With two matches of the Premier League season remaining, the Cherries sit sixth — currently occupying a Europa League berth — and need just a single point from their final two fixtures to guarantee European football of some description. They could finish anywhere from the Conference League to, remarkably, the Champions League depending on results elsewhere, with sixth potentially becoming good enough for the top European competition should Aston Villa win the Europa League final and finish fifth in the Premier League table.

"We are really close, but there is a big difference between being really close and getting it and grabbing it," Iraola cautioned, keeping his feet on the ground even as the occasion threatens to become something quite special.

Sixteen unbeaten and still going

What makes the timing all the more striking is the form underpinning this run-in. Bournemouth are currently on a 16-match unbeaten streak in the top flight — the longest of any side in the division this season. Their last league defeat came away at Arsenal back on 3 January, and they have not looked back since.

That run has been built without Antoine Semenyo, their then-leading scorer who was sold to Manchester City in the January transfer window. The forward returns to the south coast on Tuesday evening as City, chasing the title, visit the Vitality Stadium for a 19:30 BST kick-off. There is an almost poetic quality to it: the player Bournemouth sold coming back as the biggest obstacle between them and history.

The season closes with a trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday at 16:00 BST — a fixture that, should the job not be done against City, would carry enormous weight.

More than just a points tally

There is something that deserves acknowledging beyond the league table. Iraola himself has noted that this season posed different coaching challenges to his previous campaigns at the club, with a reshaped squad requiring a shift in approach. The fact that Bournemouth have navigated those demands while producing their finest ever Premier League points return speaks to the quality of work being done on the training ground and in the dressing room.

Whether it ends in the Champions League, the Europa League or the Conference League, a first European adventure for Bournemouth would be the kind of achievement that outlasts any individual. Iraola will leave regardless. But the legacy he is in the process of building at Dean Court feels like it will take quite some time to fully appreciate.

Frequently asked

Will Bournemouth be in the Champions League next season?
Bournemouth could qualify for the Champions League if they finish sixth and Aston Villa win the Europa League final while also finishing fifth in the Premier League. Otherwise, sixth place currently secures a Europa League spot. They need just one point from their final two games to guarantee European football of some kind.
Why is Andoni Iraola leaving Bournemouth?
Iraola's contract at Bournemouth expires at the end of the 2024-25 season and the club have confirmed he will be departing. No specific reason beyond the contract situation has been given publicly.
Have Bournemouth ever played in European football before?
No. In their 127-year history, Bournemouth have never competed in European club football. Qualifying this season would be entirely unprecedented for the club.