Everton had one crazy doubt about Newcastle manager Eddie Howe

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Football is littered with sliding doors moments.

Indeed, Sheffield United famously almost signed Diego Maradona, while Newcastle United once reportedly snubbed the idea of signing Zinedine Zidane.

Frankly, they are simply part of the game, as well as life as a whole.

Still, there’s nothing quite like reveling in the idea another club have dropped the ball, particularly when it is Newcastle who benefit.

Which brings us to Eddie Howe.

The former Bournemouth manager has transformed Newcastle since replacing Steve Bruce in November 2021. The first manager of the PIF era, the owners could hardly have done better.

However, moving for Howe was not without risk.

Relegated in his final season with the Cherries, it could certainly be argued that Newcastle have been as good for Howe as he has been for them. Now, the 45-year-old is back among the elite of the management world.

Everton were not convinced by Howe’s personality

Things could well have been different.

Howe was highly rated at Bournemouth and, rather naturally, the subject of speculation during his time there. Even after leaving the club with which he made his name, Celtic were touted as a landing spot.

Now, some insight has emerged in regards to Everton’s stance on Howe.

Reportedly a boyhood fan of the Toffees, The Athletic’s Oliver Kay has hinted the Goodison Park club did not pursue a move to appoint Howe due to concerns over his personality.

“I think that’s a concern that probably Everton had about him at one stage when they were thinking about him, Arsenal had about him when they were thinking about him at one stage Is he big enough, personality wise? Tottenham as well”, Kay told The Athletic Football Podcast.

So how did that work out?

Everton are hardly renowned for their incisive decision making.

Rather than appointing Howe, they have shuffled through all manner of managers in recent years and the last two seasons have been spent desperately battling a first relegation from the Premier League.

Whatever concerns people had of Howe, he has surely allayed them. He’s united a club and its fanbase, turned Newcastle into a defensive powerhouse and has been praised for dealing with the Ryan Fraser situation so well.

One club’s loss is another club’s gain!