Eddie Howe, the head coach of Newcastle, has expressed his primary goal of lifting a trophy with the club, despite acknowledging that managing England in the future might be appealing to him. Speculation has surrounded the 46-year-old for months, linking him to potentially succeeding Gareth Southgate as the England national team manager. However, Howe confirmed that he was not interviewed for the vacancy following Thomas Tuchel’s appointment.
While not ruling out the possibility of managing England one day, Howe emphasised that his current focus remains on Newcastle and achieving success with the team. He stated, “I genuinely think about Newcastle, and trying to lift a trophy here would be my goal… my focus is Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.” Howe has built his coaching reputation through successful stints at Bournemouth and Burnley before joining Newcastle in November 2021.
Despite his achievements in saving Newcastle from relegation in his first season and guiding them to the Carabao Cup final and Champions League qualification in his second, Howe remains grounded about his future. He admitted that the managerial role comes with challenges and personal sacrifices but expressed his love for the job and willingness to continue as long as he enjoys it and his family is in a good place.
When asked about his long-term career outlook, Howe mentioned the unpredictability of the profession, citing Sir Alex Ferguson’s ability to reinvent himself over a prolonged period at Manchester United. Reflecting on the inevitability of managerial changes, Howe acknowledged that each individual has their own timeline and feelings towards when it might be time for a new challenge.
As Newcastle prepares to face Brighton on Saturday, Howe remains committed to the club but recognises the transient nature of managerial roles and the need to adapt to changing circumstances. He indicated that as long as he continues to derive satisfaction from the job and his family is supportive, he intends to persevere in his managerial career for as long as possible, echoing the resilience exemplified by legendary figures like Ferguson in the past.