Bournemouth from the abyss to the Champions League dream: Huijsen and the terrible boys want to make history

Bournemouth, 21 January – From rags to riches: this is how we could sum up the last few years lived by Bournemouth who, thanks to commitment, resilience and humility, managed to climb back from the deepest abyss. The 'Cherries' are having an excellent season in the Premier League under the guidance of Iraola (they are currently in seventh place) and certainly do not want to stop believing in the dream called Champions League. A dream that perhaps could remain just that at the end of the championship but that on Saturday, before the subsequent victories of Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Chelsea, had virtually become reality, even if only for a few minutes. But how much road has been travelled to get to this virtual, but nevertheless historic, result is only known by the fans, who have never given up on that team that represents the pretty city on the English Channel, even in the hardest moment.

The near failure and the 'miracle'. In the late 90s the club went through its darkest period. The company found itself with 4 million pounds in debt, on the brink of bankruptcy, and with the obligation to pay 300.000 to the banks in a matter of days to survive. It was at that moment that the love of the people took over: two thousand fans gathered at the city's Winter Garden theatre and through a collection they managed to raise the required amount, miraculously saving the club.

The project . The “Winter Garden” episode gave the management that motivation to never experience a similar situation again, which in recent years chairman Bill Foley has been trying to push forward. But how can Bournemouth have its say in such a difficult championship? 50% is due to the valorisation of young players such as Huijsen, Kerkez and Evanilson, while the other 50% goes to a coach who has conveyed that will to fight that we were talking about previously.

The Myth Eddie Howe. That Bournemouth that is fighting for the Champions League is in fact the result of the work of Eddie Howe, current Newcastle coach, who in 2008 found himself saving his former team from the amateurs after an injury that ended his career. With the Englishman on the bench there was a long and incredible journey, which culminated on 27 April 2015 with the return to the Premier League after 116 years, once again rewriting history. And now there is no way to stop.