Eddie Howe has left his role as Newcastle United head coach. Â
The decision has been taken following discussions with the club’s hierarchy over the last 48 hours, although Howe had started the ball rolling on a potential departure a number of weeks ago.
In this time, Howe continued to focus on preparing the Newcastle team for their season opener against Liverpool on August 23, live on Sky Sports. Howe’s departure comes 25 days before that fixture.
Newcastle have already had a challenging summer after the sales of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon – and that continues with uncertainty over their captain Bruno Guimaraes, who is wanted by Arsenal.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe discusses the rumours surrounding Bruno Guimaraes transfer status and reveals he wants to keep him at the club.
Those sales have played a factor in Howe’s decision amid concerns about what the squad will look like at the start of the new campaign. Newcastle also sold striker Alexander Isak for a British record £125m to Liverpool last summer.
Howe has spent a number of months reflecting on his time at Newcastle and believed he could take the club forward this season, providing Newcastle recruited well this summer.
Newcastle have signed 20-year-old winger Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £42m, 18-year-old midfielder Sean Steur from Ajax for £23m and 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Reims for £18.5m.
They have recently, however, appeared to miss out on Johan Manzambi, who decided to move to Aston Villa – which was a big blow for Howe and the club.
Howe has been one of Newcastle’s greatest-ever managers, winning the League Cup to end the club’s 70-year wait for silverware as well as taking the club into the Champions League on two occasions after sealing top-five finishes in the Premier League.
Last season, they progressed further in the Champions League than they had ever done before.
Newcastle have already started the process to find Howe’s successor with a number of names on the list of sporting director Ross Wilson and CEO David Hopkinson.
His final game in charge was a brutal 4-1 pre-season loss to Championship side Bristol City on Wednesday night.
Watch highlights of the pre-season friendly between Bristol City and Newcastle. Credit: Robins TV.
‘I cannot assure Bruno future’ – Howe’s final words as boss
In his final words as Newcastle boss, Howe refused to offer assurances over the future of captain Guimaraes amid heavy interest from Arsenal – but added the player is not in control of his own future.
Sky Sports News reported earlier this month that Guimaraes has told Newcastle he’d like to leave the club in favour of a move to the Premier League champions, but the Magpies have no intention of selling the 28-year-old Brazil international.
Asked about Guimaraes, who is yet to rejoin his team-mates following the World Cup, Howe said on Wednesday night: “Assurances – I don’t think you can push too hard for those. I think I’ve said many times you want players that are committed.
“Bruno’s always been committed here. His training performances, his game performances, have been outstanding. Every time he’s worn the shirt, he’s played with the fans by his side. I’d love to see that continue.
“I think we want to keep all of our best players. They’re so valuable, and as I said numerous times, there aren’t many of them, and to get them and develop them is so difficult.
“So when you have them, you want to keep them. And Bruno’s very much in that category; he’s an outstanding player.”
Asked if this saga dragging on creates a negative mood, Howe replied: “Any distraction, if it’s not healthy, is unhealthy. So, yeah.
“But we’re not in control of that. And to some degree, I don’t think Bruno’s in control of that either.
“What will be, will be. We can’t control the forces that are at play here, we’ve just got to make sure that when Bruno comes back, we look after him and he trains well, which I’m sure he will do. And he makes a difference as he always has done.”
More to follow.
