Bournemouth boss Marco Rose out to achieve first-time Premier League feat in Man City opener

Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose will have the chance to achieve a first-time winning feat in Sunday's Premier League clash against Manchester City.

The Cherries will start a Premier League season with a new head coach for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign.

Rose faces the tough task of succeeding Andoni Iraola, who left his role after guiding Bournemouth to a European finish for the first time in the club's history.

The 49-year-old faces the daunting prospect of being the fifth coach to start his Premier League managerial career with an away game against Manchester City.

© Iconsport / GEPA pictures/ Wolfgang Kofler

Rose targeting first-time winning feat 

None of the previous four coaches was victorious in their opening game against the Citizens (L3, D1), so Rose will have to create Premier League history if he is to start his tenure with a win. 

Callum McFarlane was the last manager to begin a Premier League stint with an encounter against Man City, overseeing a 1-1 draw in Chelsea's trip to the Etihad Stadium in January. 

Rose's hopes of a positive result will also be tempered by the fact Bournemouth have lost all nine of their previous Premier League away meetings with the Citizens.

They have conceded three goals or more in eight of those games, including a 3-1 defeat in their most recent trip to the Etihad Stadium in November 2005. 

© Imago / Pro Sports Images

Bournemouth's opening day struggles 

Bournemouth have found wins hard to come by on the first weekend of the Premier League, having won just two of their nine top-flight openers. 

Those two victories took place against Cardiff City in 2018-19 and Aston Villa in 2022-23. 

They are at risk of losing back-to-back Premier League openers after falling to a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool on matchday one of the 2025-26 campaign.

The Cherries will at least enter the contest with a long unbeaten run after avoiding defeat in Iraola's final 18 Premier League games (W8, D10).

Their last top-flight defeat took place against Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium on January 3.