Newcastle’s Nightmare: Eddie Howe Emerges as Favourite to Replace Gareth Southgate as England Manager
The news that Gareth Southgate is stepping down as England manager after almost eight years in the job has sent shockwaves through the football world. But what’s even more intriguing is the emergence of Newcastle boss Eddie Howe as the new favourite to take over the reigns.
According to SkyBet, Howe has been cut to 2/1 to succeed Southgate, with former Chelsea and Brighton coach Graham Potter trailing behind at 5/2. The 44-year-old Howe has previously described the England post as "the ultimate" job, but Newcastle have made it clear that they will fight to keep him at St James’ Park.
Losing Howe would be a nightmare for Newcastle, especially considering they’ve just started pre-season and the new Premier League season is just over four weeks away. But Howe’s long-term contract extension in 2022, reportedly including a £5 million release clause, suggests that the Magpies are keen to hold onto their manager.
But what does this mean for England? Howe’s credentials are impressive, having guided Bournemouth to promotion to the Premier League in 2015 and keeping them in the top flight for five seasons. However, his appointment would also mean that Newcastle would lose a key figure in their rebuild, which could have long-term implications for the club.
Other contenders for the England job include Lee Carsley, the current Under-21s boss, who is 10/3 to take over. Carsley has a wealth of experience working with young English players and could be an excellent choice for the job. Frank Lampard and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp are also in the mix, but both are 8/1 and may be unlikely to take on the role.
So, what’s next for the FA? According to The Independent, they would be open to appointing an interim boss if they can persuade Pep Guardiola to take the England job if he leaves Manchester City in 2025. Meanwhile, the FA have said that they will appoint a coach on an interim basis if they cannot find the right permanent candidate.
With so many twists and turns, one thing is for sure: this will be a fascinating appointment process. We’ll be keeping a close eye on all the developments and will bring you updates as they happen.
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