FORMER Cherries captain Matt Holland admitted he would have relished playing in a side managed by Eddie Howe, labelling as "phenomenal" the job done by the "obsessive" Vitality Stadium boss.

Retired midfielder Holland, a key cog in the Cherries team which achieved the Great Escape in 1994-95, has been an interested spectator for his old club's meteoric journey up the leagues, a rise driven by Howe over two separate spells.

Capped 49 times by the Republic of Ireland, Holland insisted the attention to detail shown by his former team-mate – alongside his burning ambition – had fuelled his side's Premier League odyssey.

Holland, an ambassador and spokesman as Cherries fell into receivership two decades ago, was also the saviour when his £800,000 sale to Ipswich Town in 1997 provided crucial funds.

And the ex-Charlton Athletic man admitted the dramatic change in the Dorset club's fortunes had been nothing short of remarkable.

Holland told the Daily Echo: "I'd love to have played in one of Eddie's teams. They are great to watch.

"I've followed Bournemouth closely due to my connections and the job he has done has been phenomenal. It's been good to watch the transformation from the time I was there to where it is now – it is unrecognisable.

"It's quite remarkable to see them not just in the Premier League but doing well in it. Going back 20 years, you would never have envisaged this.

"That's testament to how Eddie has turned it round, his eye for a player and eye for detail. I can't think of too many managers at other clubs who have the same influence over every detail.

"I think he is obsessive but to be successful, you have to be. You can't take your eye off the ball for one minute.

"What impresses me most is he never feels he hasn't achieved anything. He's very humble but always wants to achieve more. That's an attitude which I think is great because as soon as you think you've done it, it bites you on the backside."

Holland believes Howe has set his team ambitious targets for the current campaign.

Asked how much higher 13th-placed Cherries could go, Holland said: "Who knows? I guess Eddie's looking at top 10 this season. He has probably set a target for the players because he strikes me as the kind of person who would give the players something to achieve.

"I guess that's probably what he's aiming at and maybe having a good run in a cup competition as well. That's probably the next step."

During a glittering playing career, Holland captained Ipswich to the Premier League in 2000 followed by a memorable European campaign with the Tractor Boys.

He also represented Ireland at the 2002 World Cup, scoring with a thumping strike from range against Cameroon during a 1-1 draw in the group stage. The Boys in Green were later to go out to Spain on penalties in the last 16.