Andoni Iraola, formerly of Rayo Vallecano, once expressed his admiration for Marco Rose's Borussia Monchengladbach team in an interview with Relevo, a Spanish sports outlet. Iraola's response seems particularly relevant now, given Rose's impending arrival at Bournemouth.
"Marco Rose's Gladbach was one of my favorite teams," Iraola stated. "I enjoy German football because, as a spectator, I love the constant action. It's not a matter of one team attacking for two minutes and then switching. Every player must perform multiple roles, as everyone on the pitch is both attacking and defending.
I appreciate this style of football, where players are versatile. The attackers press as defenders, and central defenders drive forward, holding the last line. It's a complete and tactical brand of football, which is why I liked Rose's Gladbach; you could see it was well-planned. Over three years have passed, and the situation has come full circle.
Rose, who may have unintentionally inspired Bournemouth, will now take over the team following Iraola's decision to leave this summer. Is a Premier League side in danger of making a well-thought-out appointment? Perhaps it's easier to make a change from a position of strength. Bournemouth continue to progress, and news of Rose's impending arrival emerges at a time when they are on the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League.
They may even qualify for Europe. However, Tiago Pinto and other decision-makers on the south coast still deserve credit for a sensible move. It's not just that Iraola admires Rose; it's why Iraola admires him that's crucial. Rose has a track record of delivering the brand of vertical football that Iraola enjoys.
This predates his time at Borussia Monchengladbach, as he was schooled as a player under Jurgen Klopp at Mainz and as a coach within the Red Bull system. Rose was told by Klopp in 2004, when Mainz won promotion to the top division, that he would go on to become a coach.
He worked as an assistant at Mainz before progressing from coaching Red Bull Salzburg's under-16s to managing the first team. That Salzburg side was impressive, winning two titles, going unbeaten at home, and embarking on notable European runs. His fine work in Austria earned him a chance at Gladbach, where he qualified for the Champions League.
A move to Borussia Dortmund, who paid a significant sum to release him from his contract, ended after one season despite finishing second in the Bundesliga. Rose's return to Red Bull, at RB Leipzig, brought out the best in him. As Rose once stated, "We stand for a certain way of playing at RB," and he became the club's longest-serving head coach in the top division, building on principles first established by Ralf Rangnick.
This style of play would be recognizable to Bournemouth fans. According to Leipzig's sporting director Marcel Schafer, Rose's team "plays with high intensity, both with and without the ball." This was true for much of his time in charge.
During his tenure, Rose's Leipzig scored more goals from fast breaks than any European heavyweight in the Champions League, except for Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid. Of course, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. Rose has been out of work for a year after being sacked by his old friend Klopp, who had previously claimed Rose could get any job in football, following a difficult final season at Leipzig.
There was a feeling that the club moved away from their principles. "If you're one of the top teams, you need to find solutions with the ball," Schafer explained.
"But we cannot change the whole philosophy. It's not authentic." Bournemouth will want the real Rose.
Certainly, his personable style should help him adapt. Rangnick once described Rose as a Menschenfanger, or a people catcher, a phrase often used to describe Klopp. He draws people towards him and has a way of getting them onside.
Former Leipzig forward Lois Openda called Rose a coach who "is really intelligent and knows where to put the players." This appointment ticks a lot of boxes, especially if Bournemouth qualify for Europe. Rose has experience managing two games a week, something that can be challenging for teams that want to play with intensity. He qualified for the Champions League with three different Bundesliga clubs, making his experience a valuable asset. Bournemouth has made it this far with smart recruitment.
Adrien Truffert has replaced Milos Kerkez at left-back, and Rayan looks like a promising successor to Antoine Semenyo. Even the departure of the coach need not be the end of the journey, as Iraola himself can attest.