The skipper first came to the club on loan in the 2010/11 season, when the team was playing in League One, before returning on a permanent deal in 2014 with the side in the Championship.
He has seen two promotions, one relegation and now, remarkably, a first ever European qualification.
Smith reflected on his time at the club, and told the Daily Echo he never would have believed it if you told him back in 2010 that this was where the club was heading.
Pic by Sally Adams 9/4/11 AFCBvTRAN18 AFC Bournemouth v Tranmere Rovers Cherries no.15, Adam (Image: Sally Adams)
A delighted Lee Bradbury with Adam Smith at the end of the game (Image: NQ)
He said: “Even when we got relegated and playing the Champ and just honestly never would have thought that in 2026, we'd be qualified for Europa League and finished sixth in the league.
“It's just what dreams are made of really for this club.”
The club headed into the final game of the season at Nottingham Forest knowing they could qualify for the Champions League, should they confirm their sixth place finish and results elsewhere go their way.
It didn’t fall their way, meaning they have qualified for the Europa League, but for that to even be a conversation was remarkable to Smith.
(Image: Corin Messer)
Asked what the emotions were at fulltime as Europa League was confirmed, he said: “Obviously like buzzing, but half disappointed that the results didn't go our way.
“It would have been amazing to get Champions League, but let's not get too carried away.
“For us to finish sixth in the Premier League, 18 games unbeaten, in the Europa League is, what an achievement, honestly.”
Smith hailed boss Andoni Iraola and the squad’s mindset for finding a way to get results in the second half of the season.
Bournemouth's Adam Smith (left) and Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier after the final whistle during the Premier League match at Craven Cottage, London. (Image: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)
“Somehow we just find a way, and I think that's credit to the gaffer and all the other coaches that they put that mentality in our minds,” he said.
“And even [vs Nottingham Forest], the first half, we didn't play well.
“It's just the mentality we have here is like, we just never give up.
“Even the second half, we just took it up a level. We just never give up, and that's the mentality that the gaffer and all the coaches put in our minds. And this is an unbelievable feeling, our never say die attitude.”
(Image: Richard Crease)
He said the feeling in the dressing room made all the hard work they have put in through the season worth it.
“It's why we do it,” he said.
“It's why when we go preseason, we're running every day and working hard and coming on Sundays, recovery and train, and that's just why you do it for moments like this.
“And it's something that probably when I retire I'll look back on and be like, what an amazing time. You just can't beat it.”
Smith signed a new contract with the club for next season, with Iraola leaving in the summer and Marco Rose joining.
Smith said: “Obviously, a change of manager, so just things are uncertain for everyone.
“Everyone's got a clean slate, so everyone needs to come back and impress the new manager and then go from there and see what happens.”