Exactly 15 years ago, on 22 October 2011, Bournemouth found themselves 21st in the English third division after a 2-1 home defeat to Bury. Fast forward a decade and a half, and the Cherries are set to welcome seven-time Champions League winners AC Milan to the Vitality Stadium for a Europa League clash.
The journey of the Dorset club from the brink of extinction and fundraising with buckets in 2008 to a stable Premier League outfit and a European debut is nothing short of remarkable. Joe Partington, a former midfielder for the club, recalls the days when players got changed in one room, trained at a nearby park, and matches attracted just around 6,000 fans.
Historic connection with the Rossoneri
Interestingly, the history of rivalry between the two clubs runs deep. In the early 1970s, then-manager John Bond changed Bournemouth's traditional red and white colours to red and black striped shirts in admiration of AC Milan’s dominance on the continent. Additionally, in 1972, the club changed its name from Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic to AFC Bournemouth, aiming for a more continental sound and to top the alphabetical listings in the Football League.
Epic match at the Vitality
Today, Bournemouth is in the safe hands of American billionaire Bill Foley, under whose ownership the club has acquired a modern training complex and academy.
For fans, the match against Milan has become the highlight of the season. The Italian giants, managed by former Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim, have brought a star-studded squad to England, featuring 41-year-old Luka Modric.
We’ve earned the right to play in the Europa League through hard work and ambition, says fan Kirk Tovi. Maybe we’re just little Bournemouth, but we absolutely deserve to play against Milan.
