Newcastle United have achieved a remarkable transformation in just over 18 months, securing a return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years since a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium bought out unpopular owner Mike Ashley. The club have gone from being winless and mired in a relegation battle in October 2021 to a fourth-placed finish this year. BBC Sport looks into the key reasons for this dramatic change.
Training – ‘intensity is our identity’: Eddie Howe arrived at Newcastle and immediately shook up the training schedule, reducing days off, bringing sessions forward to an earlier start time and setting an example by turning up for work regularly at 6am. He uploaded all of his training drills on to a digital format for maximum efficiency and worked to improve individual players, such as Joelinton, who was transformed from a misfiring striker to a combative midfield all-rounder. Tactical instructions were made simple for every player and reinforced daily. The club also invested in upgrading the training ground, with a new dining room, hydrotherapy pool, changing rooms, tennis court and artificial pitches.
Recruitment – a considered approach: Director of Football Dan Ashworth, minority shareholders Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben, and Head of Recruitment Steve Nickson worked alongside Howe to bring in British or Premier League players, such as Dan Burn from Brighton, Matt Targett from Aston Villa, Chris Wood from Burnley and Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid. They also signed Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon, Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad and Sven Botman from Lille. Character and willingness to put the team first were the most important factors in any deal.
Tactics (including mastering the ‘dark arts’): Howe has moved away from a 4-4-2 formation to a more proactive 4-3-3 with inverted wingers. Newcastle employ an effective counter-press, swarming teams with their new-found intensity, while their defence plays a high line despite neither Botman nor Fabian Schar possessing great pace. They have also become more streetwise and ‘manage the game’ more effectively, with Howe publicly downplaying similarities to Atletico Madrid.
Togetherness – a city united: Fans had felt largely ignored during the Ashley years but now have a full-time supporter liaison department and are discussing a fan board too. Wor Flags have been present since the change of ownership and club legends are being welcomed in for talks over ambassadorial roles. Howe has also incorporated those players on the periphery of the first team into the senior leadership group.
The future – what next?: Newcastle are looking for quality over quantity in their recruitment this summer, targeting four or five recruits. They are looking for a deep-lying central midfielder and have interest in Nice’s Khephren Thuram and Leicester’s James Maddison. Financial Fair Play will be a factor in summer planning and they may look to cash in on Allan Saint-Maximin while keeping hold of experienced players such as Martin Dubravka and Paul Dummett. The club are now several years ahead of where they expected to be but must keep pushing if they are to achieve the success they are targeting.