Ruud van Nistelrooy: Legends in the dugout – when club heroes become bosses

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Ruud van Nistelrooy: Legends in the dugout – when club heroes become bosses

Bournemouth player (1994-2002, 2004-2007): 313 appearances, 15 goals

Bournemouth manager (2008-2011, 2012-2020): 458 matches, 194 wins, 95 draws, 169 losses

Centre-back Eddie Howe came through the ranks at Bournemouth and went on to make more than 300 appearances for the Cherries during two spells at the club.

With the club in financial trouble and in danger of slipping out of the Football League, Howe became manager in 2008, kept them up, then won promotion in 2009-10. After a spell at Burnley, two more promotions followed as Howe took Bournemouth into the top flight for the first time in their history.

Mark Mitchener, BBC Sport senior journalist, said: “Eddie Howe the player was a crowd favourite, but Eddie Howe the manager became a Bournemouth legend.

“Expectations were not high when he took over as caretaker boss on New Year’s Eve 2008. Arguably, the Cherries were at their all-time lowest ebb – 23rd in League Two after administration forced them to begin the season on ****** 17 points.

“Manager Jimmy Quinn’s tactics had alienated the fans while Darren Anderton chose to retire rather than endure Quinn’s man-management style. Off the field it was no better, with relegation and/or financial oblivion a realistic *****.

“From the outside, it looked like youth coach Howe was an expedient appointment, someone already on the payroll who knew the club well. The supporters knew him and were behind him, knowing what a duff hand he had been dealt.

“But he not only kept Bournemouth up, he won promotion the next season despite a transfer embargo. He returned after 18 months at Burnley to win two promotions in three seasons to take the Cherries to the unthinkable heights of the Premier League only six and a half years after the club was at ******’s door – and kept them there for five seasons.

“The phrase ‘club legend’ barely does justice to him.”

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