Bournemouth's top-10 finish delights manager Eddie Howe

By Michael Hincks

Eddie Howe says Bournemouth have given him everything on the training ground in order to achieve the best season in the club’s history

Eddie Howe hailed the record-breaking efforts of his Bournemouth players after the club ended the Premier League season in ninth.

The top-half finish sees them seven places better off than last year, in what is only their second-ever campaign in England's top tier.

A 1-1 draw at Leicester helped Bournemouth finish on 46 points, with Junior Stanislas' early opener being cancelled out by Jamie Vardy's second-half tap-in.

Howe could not hide his delight at Bournemouth's achievement, admitting it arguably goes down as the greatest season in their history.

"It's a fantastic achievement and a fantastic day for the club," Howe told Sky Sports after the Leicester match.

Advertisement

"When you consider our recent history and where we have come from, I don't think it should be underestimated - the achievement by this group of players.

This video is only available on Skysports.com.
Open to watch

"It's a very talented and committed group. They've given me everything on the training ground and I'm delighted for them for reaching this milestone.

Also See:

"I think it does [go down as the club's best season in history] because the position speaks for itself. Although you don't get a trophy or the plaudits that you do on the back of a promotion, it really should be acknowledged by everyone in the Bournemouth area how well these players have done.

"It's such a difficult league to play in as we all know, and to finish in the top half above some of those clubs below us is a great achievement."

Image: Bournemouth's ninth-placed finish sees them seven places better off than last year

Howe will now be tasked with trying to improve on Bournemouth's record season, and the 39-year-old knows that a big challenge lies ahead for the south-coast club.

"Who knows if it's possible but we'll have to go out and prove that it is. I believe that there's more growth in this team," Howe added.

"It's going to take a lot of hard work in the summer, but hopefully we can do that.

"It's not always about recruitment, it's about what you're going to do on the training ground so I will focus on that first."

Outbrain