Jermain Defoe reflects on his two spells at AFC Bournemouth - from a prolific first stint to a difficult return under Eddie Howe, where tactical demands and lack of communication left him struggling and falling out of love with the game.
In recent video "Defend Your Career", on the Midnite Sports Youtube channel, Cherries goal-scoring Jermain Defoe and now Woking manager has offered a candid and, at times, revealing reflection on his two spells with AFC Bournemouth - a club that played a pivotal role in both the beginning and latter stages of his career.
For many supporters, Defoe’s legacy on the south coast is defined by his explosive first stint. He arrived on loan as a teenager from West Ham thanks to Hammers manager Harry Redknapp, who wanted him to gain some experience in the men's game. Sure enough, he quickly made his mark, scoring freely and showcasing the predatory instincts that would define his career, famously scoring 10 in 10 amid a 19-goal haul for Sean O'Driscoll's men.
Reflecting on that period, Defoe spoke warmly about the impact Bournemouth had on his development, describing the move as “one of the best thing's I ever did.” I
However, it is his second spell at the club, beginning in 2017, that provides the most intriguing insight.
© Gilmedia Ltd / Midnite Sports (Used with permission)A Return to AFC Bournemouth
Returning as an experienced striker and England international, Defoe arrived with confidence, believing he could replicate the goal-scoring form he had shown at Sunderland. Yet, despite that belief, things never quite clicked. He managed just four goals in 26 appearances, and, as he now admits, struggled to adapt to the demands placed upon him by then-manager Eddie Howe.
"He was asking me to do things I've never done before, and it was just so hard for me to do that at that age.".
The contrast with previous managers was stark. Defoe cited figures like Harry Redknapp and David Moyes as examples of coaches who understood how to get the best out of him - simplifying his role and allowing him to focus on what he did best: scoring goals. At Bournemouth, however, he felt restricted.
"At Sunderland, I was lucky. I had someone like Big Sam. Then I had David Moyes who would just basically say to me: 'You're not training today. I need you for Saturday. Get a massage, go in a pool'. So, he managed me different to a lot of the other players because I probably felt like he had to because I was a lot older and he needed me for for the game".
"I remember being at Bournemouth. We played against Chelsea at home and I remember I just felt like the whole of the first half I was just chasing Hazard and I just felt like it's not my job and that I was doing so much work without the ball, then all of a sudden we get the ball back and then I have to be in a position where I've always been to to score. It was just so difficult".
That disconnect appeared to go beyond tactics. Defoe suggested there was a lack of communication, adding: “we didn't have that sort of dialogue. We didn't really speak much.” Instead, he often leaned on assistant manager Jason Tindall, someone he already knew well, for guidance.
Off the pitch, the impact was even more profound. Defoe admitted that during this period, he began to lose his love for the game. Family members noticed a change in his demeanour, with one relative remarking on his body language after watching him on television. “I'm just not enjoying it,” Defoe admitted of that time.
© Gilmedia Ltd / Midnite Sports (Used with permission)Despite these struggles, he is careful not to frame the experience with bitterness. “I wouldn't say I regret it,” he said, acknowledging the opportunity and the affection he still holds for the club and its supporters.
"I was excited about the move because I was going back to Bournemouth, a place where I got so much love from the fans. It's not a bad place to live. It ticked all the boxes"
A mis-match of styles
Ultimately, his second spell at Bournemouth represents a fascinating case of timing, style, and expectation failing to align. For a striker so reliant on instinct and confidence, the environment perhaps proved ill-suited - a rare chapter in an otherwise prolific career where, as Defoe himself puts it, “the styles weren't matching.”
Jermain went on to Rangers from Dean Court, and then had another reunion at Sunderland, before retiring the game and moving into the TV punditry with the Premier League. Now, as Woking manager, the former Cherry, hungry for success, Jermain will be aiming to improve on the club's 11th placed position, even having an outside chance of reaching the National League play-offs.
You wouldn't put it past him.