In an exclusive interview, Bournemouth icon Steve Fletcher has heaped praise on the south coast club’s new manager, Marco Rose, expressing admiration for the German’s approach and character.
Having previously managed three clubs in the UEFA Champions League, Marco Rose’s appointment marks a major statement of intent for Bournemouth. His coaching résumé includes leading Red Bull Salzburg to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, before taking charge of Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig in Europe’s top-tier competition.
The Cherries finished sixth in the Premier League last season, and after Andoni Iraola confirmed in April that he would depart at the end of the campaign to join Liverpool, Bournemouth acted swiftly to bring in Rose as his successor.
In a rare gesture, Rose had the opportunity to meet Iraola after the season ended, allowing the outgoing manager to pass on insights that could help ensure a smooth transition and continued success for the club.
The incoming coach made a strong impression during his visit in May, engaging with players and staff in a way that quickly won over those around him.
Among those he met was club legend Steve Fletcher, who joined Bournemouth in 1992 and went on to play 19 years for the team, famously scoring the goal that kept them from slipping into non-league football in 2009. Since retiring, Fletcher has served in multiple off-field roles and now represents the club as an ambassador.
“Marco came in right at the end of the season – he met Andoni and they gave each other a big hug, which I thought was lovely, because that doesn’t happen very often at clubs,” Fletcher told FFT.
“After the final game, he spent a couple of days meeting people and familiarising himself with the surroundings. He met sporting director Tiago Pinto and other key figures, but he didn’t limit himself to the top brass. He went around to the training ground, the accounts office, the media team, even the kitchen staff, taking time to speak with everyone. It wasn’t just a quick hello – he’s genuinely a great person.”
Fletcher continued, “He wanted to learn about the club’s history, and he already knew quite a lot. Tiago told me, ‘He wants to meet you.’ I thought, ‘Why would he want to meet me? There are far more important people here.’ But perhaps it was because of my 34 years of connection with this club.”
“When I met him, it felt like I’d known him forever. He has this aura, a personality that makes you instantly warm to him. He listens – not just for the sake of it, but because he truly cares.”
“He had clearly done his research and understood the club’s remarkable journey – how Bournemouth nearly went out of existence several times before rising all the way to the Premier League. Anyone who takes the time to understand that deserves instant respect.”
Fletcher shared his thoughts during an event celebrating Bournemouth’s new official sleeve partnership with ‘MrQ’. To mark the collaboration, hundreds of towels were arranged early in the morning on Bournemouth Beach to form a massive mosaic, symbolising the start of a new era under Rose’s leadership.
“They were there from 4 a.m., laying out more than 230 towels in a prime spot right next to the famous Bournemouth Pier. If you want to catch the eye of thousands of summer tourists, that’s certainly one way to do it,” Fletcher said with a laugh.
“It was quite a sight – I don’t think anyone had seen that many towels on the beach at once. I hadn’t been down that early in the morning for years – probably not since pre-season training back in the 90s, sprinting up and down the dunes!”
MrQ has officially become Bournemouth’s new sleeve sponsor. To celebrate the partnership, the brand unveiled a massive ‘Reserved for MrQ’ towel mosaic on Bournemouth Beach, inspired by the classic tradition of reserving a beach spot. The display also paid tribute to the arrival of Marco Rose and the beginning of a new chapter for the club.
