We appointed Eddie Howe at Newcastle United - here's our honest thoughts, three years on

In October 2021, the Magpies were winless and the threat of Premier League relegation loomed. A city was jubilant following the Saudi-backed takeover but Steve Bruce was the final remnant of the Mike Ashley era.

The former Toon boss was given his 1,000th game in management against Tottenham Hotspur - a 3-2 defeat - before being given his marching orders. A lengthy process took almost three weeks to find a replacement, with the new regime keen to appoint the right man.

Reports suggested Unai Emery was the front-runner having recently led Villarreal to the Europa League, their first major trophy. The Spaniard - now at Aston Villa - confirmed talks were held about taking the St James’ Park gig.

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“When Newcastle called me, I thought a lot about the opportunity to return to England, to a serious project,” Emery told The Athletic following the saga. “For me, it was a source of pride, satisfaction and I appreciated it.

“The opportunity of a club like Newcastle, what it could turn out to be, it is normal for me to listen to the offer, to consider it. I thought about the offer and I spoke with (Villarreal president) Fernando Roig but I also had to take into account that we were in the Champions League with Villarreal, mid-season. 

“In the end, with a lot of respect for Villarreal, and a lot of respect for Newcastle, I decided to stay here. I am happy here and we are doing an important job.”

Ex-Newcastle co-owner Staveley, who left the club after two-and-a-half years last July, believes appointing workaholic Howe was a masterstroke. She told ITV: “We knew on day one that, whatever we did, there had to be a world-class manager and every player who joined us on that journey had to be exceptional. 

“The joy of working with someone who is so professional and passionate and really unwise in what he does… Eddie was extraordinary.”

Her husband and business partner, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, went as far as to suggest hiring Howe was the “best decision” the ownership model made. Several other managers were understood to have been interviewed for the Newcastle job.

“It was the best decision we could have made,” Ghodoussi added. “It was a collective decision as a consortium, as shareholders. We all came to that decision. We interviewed a lot of managers but that funnel effect came to Eddie at the end.”

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