Eddie Howe has already responded to Manchester United links with Newcastle United admission
Eddie Howe was often linked to the Manchester United job when Newcastle United head coach.
Former Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has emerged as a leading candidate for the Manchester United job.
Wallsend-born Michael Carrick remains in charge for now, but is widely expected to be sacked after a poor start to the campaign was compounded by heavy defeats to Como 1907 and AFC Bournemouth last week.
Man United captain Bruno Fernandes was dropped for their 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday after publicly questioning Carrick’s tactics following the 4-1 loss in Italy. Carrick came out fighting ahead of the Bournemouth match – but his players did not.
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Meetings have taken place at Old Trafford in recent days, with Carrick reportedly set to be relieved of his duties.
The 45-year-old initially took over from Ruben Amorim on an interim basis in January before being handed the job permanently after securing Champions League qualification. However, just a few months into the new campaign, Carrick’s side are 16th in the Premier League table, only one point above the relegation zone and already out of the Carabao Cup.
Eddie Howe emerges as leading candidate for Man United job
Multiple reports have suggested Howe is among the leading contenders to succeed Carrick, just three months after stepping down as Newcastle head coach.
During his four-and-a-half years at St James’ Park, Howe won the Carabao Cup and twice qualified for the Champions League, but faced criticism last season after finishing 12th in the Premier League.
Despite calls from sections of Newcastle’s fanbase for the club to part company with Howe, the board stuck by the 48-year-old. However, he ultimately decided at the start of pre-season that it was the right time to walk away.
The former Bournemouth boss had planned to take a break from football but is reportedly open to taking over at Old Trafford.
Eddie Howe has already addressed Man United links
It is not the first time Howe has been linked with the Manchester United job.
While still Newcastle boss in October 2024, he was asked directly about the speculation and said: "I'm all in [at Newcastle]. My commitment is 100 per cent here and always has been.
"My family is still here and we are fighting every day to make a success of what we are doing. The season ahead could be a wonderful thing, and that is what we are trying to focus on, trying to make a success of the games we have coming up."
Howe’s name emerged again when Amorim was sacked in January, but he insisted there was nothing that could tempt him to leave Newcastle “at this current time”.
“The most important thing for me is happiness in the role, happiness in the job, the relationships that I have with the people around me now,” Howe continued. “That’s not always been consistently good and things can change at any football club but at the moment I’m very happy.
“We’ve made some great appointments in the key roles that we needed to fill and as long as I can express myself in the best way possible and I’m in the best version of myself to help the players and the club, because ultimately for any club to be successful there has to be unity from top to bottom. There has to be a good feeling between everybody.
“I’ve had an unbelievable relationship with the board here since I’ve come to the football club. That’s never changed and I consider myself very lucky to have that because there’s very few managers that have the time to build those relationships and have the confidence and trust within each other.
“If you have all of those things that I’ve got then you’ve got a higher chance of being successful. There’s no guarantee on anything but a better chance than if the relationships aren’t working so I’m very happy at the moment and hopefully that stays for a long time.”