Eddie Howe, the current manager of Newcastle United, has revealed a long-held ambition to be the manager of the England national football team. In an upcoming book, Howe spoke about his dream of managing the Three Lions in an interview conducted before Gareth Southgate’s departure. When asked about managing England, Howe expressed his interest, stating, “Would that be something I would like to do at some stage of my career? Yes!” However, he also emphasized his laid-back approach, believing that if it’s meant to happen, it will. Howe is a big admirer of Southgate and acknowledges the fantastic work he has done for England.
In the book, titled “Cheers to 50 Years…On the Sporting Frontline,” Howe reminisces about his childhood love for England and how he would pretend to play for the national team in his garden, idolizing players like Gary Lineker. Although Howe ended up becoming a defender instead of a goal scorer, his passion for his country and England’s success remains strong.
Howe’s revelation about his desire to manage England will undoubtedly please the Football Association (FA), who consider him as a leading candidate to replace Southgate. However, despite the FA’s interest, Howe is highly regarded by Newcastle United’s fans and is content with his current position on Tyneside. He has no immediate plans to leave the club that made him one of the favorites among bookmakers to lead England into the 2026 World Cup. Newcastle has publicly declared their determination to keep Howe at St James’ Park.
While Howe would love to manage his country, he is known for his loyalty and would carefully consider leaving Newcastle. In his first season with the club, he successfully saved them from relegation. In his second season, he led them to the Carabao Cup final and secured qualification for the Champions League by finishing fourth in the league. However, Newcastle failed to reach Europe last season due to a significant number of injuries and financial constraints imposed by the Financial Fair Play regulations.
Despite some criticism and legitimate concerns about Southgate’s tactics, team selection, and performance in high-pressure games, his tenure as England manager has undeniably brought respect back to the national team. When Southgate took over in 2016, the England team had become a laughing stock following a disastrous exit from the European Championships against Iceland and Sam Allardyce’s short-lived tenure. Southgate’s decency, humility, eloquence, and vision for a better future revitalized the team. He addressed the issues that had plagued England in the past, such as poor preparation for penalty shootouts and players being disengaged during major tournaments. Under Southgate’s leadership, England reached back-to-back finals for the first time in history.
Southgate’s approach of opening up to the media and fostering a supportive relationship has also helped restore positivity around the national team. While he has faced criticism when necessary, the vitriol that once surrounded England managers has largely dissipated. Southgate’s tenure may not have been perfect, but his results speak for themselves. Hopefully, his successor can build on his achievements and bring football home.
As for Eddie Howe, while he has expressed his desire to manage England, his focus remains on Newcastle United. The club has shown its commitment to supporting him, and with the new transfer window open, they are ready to back him with signings. Howe’s loyalty to Newcastle will likely be a significant factor in his decision-making process should the opportunity to manage England arise.