PIF interviewed an England legend, but he was ‘glad’ Newcastle United rejected him amid career U-turn

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Newcastle United owners PIF struck gold when appointing Eddie Howe, but things could well have been so different.

After the sacking of Steve Bruce in 2021, Newcastle United looked in a right old mess.

Indeed, Unai Emery rejected the chance to become Newcastle manager and stayed at Villarreal after a public pursuit, before going on to join Aston Villa.

Luckily, PIF moved back for Howe and the club have never been the same since. Howe is a Newcastle United legend after winning the Carabao Cup, while next season will be the second time he leads the club out in the Champions League.

Howe and Emery, however, weren’t the only names in the frame it seems. Former England captain and Chelsea icon John Terry revealed he was interviewed by the Newcastle United owners before the job went to Howe. 

Now, he’s thinking of giving up trying to become a manager.

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John Terry ready to give up on management dream  

The 44-year-old has never managed a club but has been on the coaching staff at both Aston Villa and Leicester City under Dean Smith. 

He has also worked in a coaching capacity with the Chelsea academy, while Terry joined Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer as a manager in the Baller League.

Still, Terry does not believe English managers of his profile get enough chances in the game. 

Speaking to The Daily Mirror, he said: “My passion has not diminished at all. Of course I want to be a manager. It’s time consuming, I’m watching games, re-watching games and I’m doing courses, I’m spending so much time waiting for this opportunity.

“The longer it goes on, the more likely I will just have to draw a line and say: ‘you know what? I’m going to focus on other things.’ I’ve captained Chelsea, I’ve captained my country and led those teams to many successes. I don’t know why I’ve not had an opportunity, I really don’t. 

“I don’t think English managers get the same opportunities. I think we get blown away by foreign managers that have dominated leagues which are not at the top level and yet still get the opportunities in the UK and the Premier League.”

What John Terry has said about Newcastle United interview

Terry’s comments suggested he applied for the Newcastle job after Bruce, who managed the defender at Villa, was sacked in 2021. 

The ex-England captain and Three Lions legend revealed he was interviewed for the job, though obviously he proved unsuccessful. 

While Terry did not go into too much detail, he claimed that his discussion with the Newcastle owners was a productive thing for him to do.

In fact, he admitted that after the interview, he was “glad” he wasn’t offered a role like the Newcastle job as he did not feel ready for it at that stage in his career.

Terry told The Obi One Podcast in 2023: “When I left Villa, I applied for two or three jobs; I interviewed for Newcastle, and I interviewed for a couple before that I didn’t get. 

“It was a really good process for me because you sit in those meetings and you go ‘actually, I’m way off this, I’m glad I didn’t get it,’ and you learn how to present in those meetings.”