Newcastle United are reportedly confident they will retain the services of “amazing manager” Eddie Howe amid interest from England following the departure of Gareth Southgate.
Newcastle United are reportedly confident that they will retain the services of manager Eddie Howe amid interest from England.
The Football Association will begin the process of appointing a new manager following the resignation of Gareth Southgate on Tuesday, just two days after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Southgate has admitted that it is “time for change and for a new chapter” following an eight-year reign as Three Lions boss, winning 61 of his 102 matches in charge and leading his country to three semi-finals and two finals in the last four major tournaments.
According to multiple reports, including one from Sky Sports News, the FA has drawn up a ‘lengthy shortlist’ of possible candidates to succeed Southgate, which includes former Chelsea boss Graham Potter and current Newcastle manager Howe.
While Potter is currently out of work, Howe has been in charge of the Magpies since November 2021, winning 60 of his 125 games across all competitions.
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Newcastle ‘confident’ of fending off England interest in Howe
Howe signed a long-term contract at Newcastle in 2022 after steering the club to Premier League safety in his first few months in charge, and Sky Sports News claims that his bumper new deal means he is currently earning almost double what Southgate was pocketing as England boss.
It is also understood that Howe’s contract at St James’ Park includes a ‘significant release clause’ which the FA would be expected to pay if they were to make a move for the 46-year-old.
With that in mind, Sky Sports News reports that Newcastle are confident that Howe will remain in charge, while Magpies CEO Darren Eales insists that the club fully intend to keep their manager long-term.
“Eddie’s been an amazing manager at the club, he’s committed to the club in the work that he’s done and what he’s shown and we’re obviously committed to him,” Eales told reporters.
“We had a multi-year extension last summer, we’re on an exciting journey and as far as we’re concerned, Eddie is the man to lead us on that, so from that perspective, there’s nothing really I can add.”
Eales continued: “As you know with Eddie, the smile on his face when he’s out there with the players. This is what he loves, the two-a-days, working with the players. From that perspective he’s committed and doing what you’d expect from Eddie which is focusing on the season ahead.”
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Who else is in the frame to replace Southgate as England manager?
Howe is currently the second favourite with the bookmakers’ to replace Southgate as England manager behind the frontrunner Potter, who has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023 after less than seven months in charge.
As they did with Southgate when appointing him back in 2016 as Sam Allardyce‘s successor, England could turn to their Under-21s coach Lee Carsley, who is known to be rated highly by the FA.
Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel is allegedly keen to become the next England manager, while the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have also been linked with the vacancy.
However, former Three Lions defender Gary Neville believes the FA should name an English successor to Southgate, telling Sky Sports News: “Moving to St George’s Park was to promote and develop English coaches. To take that away from an English manager and give to an international manager would be wrong.”
England will presumably look to appoint a new manager before their next match against the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League on September 7.