November 08, (THEWILL) – Newcastle United’s hunt for a new head coach has come to a conclusion with the appointment of Eddie Howe on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Graeme Jones has been in command of the Magpies on an interim basis since Steve Bruce left by mutual consent following a buyout in which Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund acquired an 80% stake in the club, making it the richest owner in international football.
Before Villarreal coach Unai Emery rebuffed the Premier League strugglers, Brendan Rodgers, Paulo Fonseca, Lucien Favre, and Roberto Martinez were connected with the post.
Instead, former Bournemouth manager Howe was named Bruce’s replacement on Monday after watching Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. Howe had remained unemployed since leaving Bournemouth following their relegation to the Championship in August 2020.
The 43-year-old Cherries boss did wonders during two spells in charge, overseeing an incredible climb from League Two to the Premier League, and reportedly refused to take up the mantle at Celtic before Ange Postecoglou took leadership of the Glasgow giants.
Howe has coached 545 games in his career, winning 228 of them, with Bournemouth and a stopover at Burnley in between. In the Premier League, he won 56 of 190 games, with his best season in 2016-17, when Bournemouth finished ninth with 46 points.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
