Eddie Howe Affirms Commitment To Newcastle Despite England Job Links

Eddie Howe has expressed his desire to remain at Newcastle United as long as he is content in his role, despite being linked to the vacant England manager position. Gareth Southgate resigned as England's manager on Tuesday after their Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. Howe is among the favourites to succeed Southgate, although Newcastle CEO Darren Eales believes they can retain him.

The club is experiencing significant changes this off-season. Co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have departed, while Paul Mitchell and James Bunce have been appointed as sporting director and performance director respectively. During an interview at Newcastle's pre-season training camp in Germany, Howe suggested these shifts could impact his position.

Howe stated, "Being very, very proud to be Newcastle manager, this is all about Newcastle. It's not about England. So, as long as I am happy, feel supported, feel free to work in the way that I want to work, I have not thought of anything else other than Newcastle."

Howe emphasised his commitment to the club and its supporters. "I absolutely love the club. I love the supporters. I love where I am at in my career. There is no better place for me to be. That is how I feel," he said.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by the club this summer due to numerous changes. "There has been a lot of change at the football club this summer. It has been a very difficult summer for everyone connected with the club," Howe noted.

Impact of Club Changes

Howe highlighted how these changes influence him and the team. "With change comes always a new feeling. You can point to PSR, Amanda and Mehrdad, a change in sporting director which, of course, influences me. These are all big changes," he explained.

Despite these challenges, Howe remains focused on strengthening Newcastle for the upcoming season and beyond. "It's not about me as the manager. I'm slightly irrelevant. It's about making sure Newcastle is as strong as it can be for the next season and beyond," he said.

Future Prospects

While Howe did not rule out leaving Newcastle for the England job if approached by the FA, he admitted he does not feel a strong pull towards it. "I think England is a very special job for someone," he added.

"I am very patriotic, and I'm not ashamed to say that. I love my country. I want my country to do well," Howe continued.

He expressed his disappointment over England's Euro 2024 defeat but clarified that managing England is not an immediate goal for him. "I was gutted for Gareth and the lads that they did not win the Euros," he said.

Personal Fulfillment

Howe emphasised his contentment with his current role at Newcastle. "But I don't have that job like a burning sensation in me that I have to do it at some stage," he stated.

"If it happens at some stage in the future, then it's to be for me. If not, then I'm very, very happy in the current role that I'm doing," Howe concluded.

Reflecting on his past experiences at Bournemouth, Howe mentioned how personal happiness drives his career decisions. "The day-to-day management... I had this situation a lot at Bournemouth in my second spell, but I was very happy in my environment," he shared.

"For me, that's always been my key driver: my happiness and my ability to do my job," Howe reiterated.