Exactly 15 years to the day after suffering a 2-1 League One home defeat to Bury, Bournemouth are set to host seven-time European champions AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday at 20:00 BST. It represents a historic night for the 127-year-old Dorset club, who are enjoying their debut campaign in Europe having won both of their opening fixtures, including a 3-0 victory against Sturm Graz.
The glamour tie highlights a remarkable rise for a side that faced liquidation and relied on bucket collections in 2008, finished 21st in League Two in 2008-09, and reached the Premier League in 2015. Former player and manager Tony Pulis believes the Cherries have reached "dreamland" under US billionaire Bill Foley, who completed his takeover in 2022 and invested in a brand new training setup and academy facilities. Former midfielder Joe Partington, who played in that loss to Bury when Bournemouth were 21st in the third tier with 12 points from 14 games, remembered having to drive across town for training and lunch, marveling at how supporters now walk through the local park to attend European ties.
Managed by former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, AC Milan arrive sitting fourth in Serie A with 15 points from seven matches, four points behind leaders Inter Milan. Although 19 years have passed since the Rossoneri last won the Champions League in 2007 and four years since their 19th league title, the 11-time European Cup finalists carry vast prestige. Milan's squad features England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who joined from Chelsea in 2023, and 41-year-old Luka Modric, who has started five matches this season after previously playing at the ground during Real Madrid's 6-0 friendly win in 2013.
Thursday's encounter also rekindles a unique bond between the sides, tracing back to the early 1970s when manager John Bond adopted Milan's iconic red and black stripes and rebranded the side as AFC Bournemouth. More than 12,000 supporters are set to fill Vitality Stadium, a sharp contrast to the past home crowds of 6,000 that could walk in just before kick-off. As fan channel contributor Kirk Tovey noted, the club has earned the right through hard work and ambition to share the pitch with European royalty.