Eddie Howe's departure from Newcastle
Eddie Howe has left Newcastle United after almost five years in charge. The 48-year-old arrived in November 2021 and ended the club's 70-year wait for domestic silverware with Carabao Cup glory in 2025. His tenure also saw the Magpies qualify for the Champions League twice.
However, last season was a disappointment as United finished 12th in the Premier League. They also endured a difficult transfer window with the departures of stars Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, while speculation continues over the future of captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Howe was in charge for the 4-1 friendly defeat at Bristol City on Wednesday night before the bombshell news of his departure emerged on Thursday morning. He forged a strong bond with his players, many of whom are disappointed by his exit. Here is a round-up of what some Magpies stars have said about the now former manager.
Bruno Guimaraes
Howe's exit raises further questions about the Brazilian's future, as he is wanted by Arsenal. Twelve months ago, he told FourFourTwo: "It's tough to describe what a fabulous human being he is: you'd have to work with him on a daily basis to get the full picture of what I’m talking about." Guimaraes credited Howe for Newcastle's Wembley win, called him the "best coach in Europe" and tipped him to manage England one day. He added: "I have no doubt that we beat Liverpool because of him. He was like, 'We're not dropping our lines; we'll keep pressing high, man to man.' Liverpool weren’t expecting that at all." He continued: "He is by far the best European coach I've had. No doubt he'll be England manager one day. As a person, he's a sensation – a true legend. He's gifted with strong man-management skills. He knows exactly the best way to talk to you in private, in the dressing room and in the press. He still has a long and promising career ahead of him."
Kieran Trippier
Speculation about Howe's position surfaced at the end of the disappointing and injury-hit 2023/24 season. But Trippier launched a staunch defence of his manager, saying: "I don't think I even need to go into that topic [of a change of manager]. Throughout the season, you'll have ups and downs, but what the manager has done for individuals at this club is nothing short of remarkable. He's had a 49 per cent win ratio, it's unbelievable. I don’t think I need to go down that route."
Joelinton
The Brazilian's career was transformed by Howe. Initially a misfiring striker, he became a box-to-box midfielder. Speaking in 2024, he said via the Telegraph: "He's done a lot for me since day one. He's a great coach. A great man. I love him. I have a lot of respect for him. He changed my career. He and his staff changed things. They gave me a new mentality and helped my football. They've definitely changed my life. I will be grateful forever. We love him here, we want him here. Hopefully, he will stay for many years. He's a great coach and I know he can take us to the next level."
Dan Burn
The defensive stalwart pledged his support for Howe at the end of last season, calling him the greatest manager in the club's history. Burn told the Gazette: "I've said it before, we believe in what the gaffer is doing. I think a lot of the responsibility falls on us as players rather than the manager. I've always said this when he puts a plan together, it's normally if we execute that plan, we get a result. So a lot of that falls on our shoulders. We feel like we take a lot of responsibility for that. So, yeah, we just want to keep backing him. I think, whatever happens in years to come, he will probably go down as the best manager in the history of Newcastle."
