Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has done a magnificent job since taking the job in 2021.
The 47-year-old took the club from likely relegation to the Championship to the Champions League in his first 18 months in the job.
Eddie Howe will be considered a legend for his contribution to Newcastle United, but his biggest accomplishment to date is undoubtedly taking his side to Carabao Cup glory this season. A 70-year wait for a domestic trophy ended with the win, and the Newcastle manager made sure that he and his players celebrated in style.
Newcastle embarked on an open-top bus tour through the city before taking to the stage on the Town Moor to cheer with the 300,000 passionate fans and lift the trophy once again.
The Magpies are now focused on the final nine games of the Premier League season, including their visit to Leicester on Monday night. Newcastle dropped to seventh in the Premier League table following other results, but a win against the Foxes would see them up to fifth with a game in hand over the surrounding teams.
Howe has received praise from many players and pundits for his work at Newcastle. More recently, Harry Redknapp has given the Toon boss his flowers, praising him for an unusual feat.
Harry Redknapp on Eddie Howe’s recruitment
When the takeover was completed in 2021, Newcastle spent heavily in their first two transfer windows. The likes of Alexander Isak and Sven Botman joined the club for lucrative fees, with the former proving his worth over the last two seasons in particular.
The last three windows have seen spending decrease pretty dramatically due to PSR constraints, but Howe has still managed to guide Newcastle to strong Premier League positions.
While the Newcastle boss has been praised for those big-money signings, Redknapp pointed out his domestic deals on a recent episode of Football Uncovered.
“You look at Eddie at Newcastle – he took Dan Burn, took Kieran Trippier,” Redknapp said.
“They were players that only an English manager would have signed. No foreign manager would have signed Dan Burn, (PIF) would have known it to start with.
“When I went to Portsmouth, that’s what I did. I went out and found good characters who would come in and graft. Not worry that we haven’t got a training pitch, not worry that there’s no hot water for six months at the training ground but not complain – happy to be here.”
This season saw Lewis Hall complete a permanent move to the Magpies, while the likes of Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento and Harvey Barnes have impressed since joining in 2023.
Paul Mitchell’s new recruitment strategy at Newcastle United
The majority of players who joined under Howe’s reign have been at the hand of former sporting director Dan Ashworth. However, Paul Mitchell has taken over and has completely changed the culture regarding recruitment at Newcastle.
Instead of spending big money on players in England, Mitchell wants Newcastle to sign youth from abroad with the idea that Howe can develop them to become quality players who the club can profit from in the future.
His strategy has already been put to use in Newcastle’s academy. Mitchell welcomed Baran Yildiz and Kyle Fitzgerald to Tyneside in January. The latter has impressed for the under-18s in his first seven appearances, scoring four goals and bagging two assists.
Elsewhere, Antonio Cordero is set to join Newcastle on a free transfer this summer. The 18-year-old has impressed for Malaga this season, securing 10 goal involvements.
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