Eddie Howe will celebrate his third anniversary as Newcastle United manager on Friday.
It has been a magnificent three years for Newcastle fans, who have been treated to a rollercoaster ride under Eddie Howe following the PIF takeover in 2021.
He stepped in to replace Steve Bruce at a time when Newcastle found themselves 19th in the Premier League table and on the brink of a relegation fight.
Howe rallied Newcastle and finished the 2021/22 season in 11th place. He then took the Toon on a fairytale journey in 2022/23 by qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years and taking Newcastle to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final.
He has brought the good times back to St James’ Park, and club legend Alan Shearer has now revealed what he believes is Howe’s biggest achievement as Newcastle boss.
Alan Shearer says Eddie Howe saved Newcastle from ‘disaster’
Howe has given Newcastle fans some great memories over the past three years, but Shearer believes his biggest achievement was keeping the Magpies in the Premier League.
Via a Q&A on The Athletic, Shearer argued that Howe saved Newcastle from “disaster”.
“I think his biggest achievement would have to be keeping Newcastle in the league. Going down is a disaster for any club.
“There have been other achievements obviously, like getting into the Champions and PSG, etc., but if they had gone down it would have been terrible.”
Shearer has a point, relegation would have put a gigantic dent in PIF’s ambitious long-term plan. Instead of wasting a season in the Championship, Howe led Newcastle to a fourth-placed finish and Champions League qualification.
Eddie Howe ranks among Newcastle United’s best managers
Hopefully there are plenty more years of Howe at the helm as he continues to take Newcastle back to the top.
But already, he ranks as one of the club’s best-ever managers. Shearer agrees and believes a trophy this season would put him at the very top of the list.
“How would I rank him? He’s given us great football, great entertainment, and he’s engaged and taken on what we believe Newcastle is and what we want it to be,” Shearer continued.
“I’d put him right up there with the best of our managers.
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“He’d be at the very top if he was to deliver us a trophy, which I think we’ve got a very good chance of doing this season.”
Another trip to Wembley is within touching distance after Howe led Newcastle to the last eight of the Carabao Cup.
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