Unfortunately, Newcastle United are seriously regressing under Eddie Howe at the moment.
At one stage during his near five year stay at the club, the ex-AFC Bournemouth boss would’ve been deemed untouchable, with the ecstasy of Champions League football clinched on two occasions, as well as a rare trophy being hoisted aloft, when lifting the EFL Cup in 2025.
Yet, football is a fast-turning, fickle sport, and it appears that Howe is now on borrowed time in the Magpies dug-out, with the under-fire manager’s future allegedly up for discussion in the summer, after the Tyneside club sank to 14th in the Premier League at the weekend.
Without a win since the 4th of March, the powers that be at Newcastle could well be drawing up a list of managerial candidates, ahead of a summer review, that could replace Howe, with Andoni Iraola surely high up any list that comes.
Latest on Iraola as Howe’s replacement
It was announced earlier this month that the Spaniard would be walking away from Bournemouth at the close of the season, having failed to agree a new contract.
This would have come as a blow to the Cherries, with Iraola overseeing an impressive 46 wins from his 122 games in charge and counting, while situated on the South Coast.
The South Coast club’s loss will end up being someone else’s gain, therefore, with the 43-year-old allegedly up for taking on the Newcastle reins, if Howe were to leave, as reported this week.
Having just got the better of the Magpies last time out, as Bournemouth made it eight unbeaten on the road with the 2-1 win, the soon-to-be out-of-work manager could well be a decent fit, having never finished below 12th in the Premier League standings, with the Cherries.
Yet, there is an even better option out there than settling for the former Rayo Vallecano boss, if reports are correct…
Newcastle could hire dream Iraola upgrade instead
Howe’s neck being on the line has led to several big names being touted to replace the 48-year-old.
Amazingly, Jose Mourinho – who has won three Premier League titles during his distinguished dug-out career – has been tipped as one high-profile replacement, alongside ex-Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.
It was reported previously that Mancini is likely to be discussed if Howe is dismissed, with the Italian potentially representing a clear upgrade on Iraola.
The worry with appointing Iraola as Howe’s successor is whether Newcastle would actually be taken to that next level under the Spaniard, with Iraola yet to win a major honour as a manager.
Alongside that, he has been prone to a winless run, at the helm of the Cherries, like Howe is currently experiencing, with Bournemouth going 12 games without a win, just this season, during the bleak winter months of November, December and January.
In stark contrast, Mancini has proven himself to be a serial winner as a manager, in various different environments, with the current Al-Sadd head coach once noted as being “one of the world’s best managers” by his former City comrade, Micah Richards, who he won the Premier League title alongside.
Alongside helping the Citizens to their first-ever Premier League triumph in 2012, before Pep Guardiola stormed into the Etihad, Mancini also managed to clinch a Euros win for Italy at Wembley in 2021, with the Azzuri never really recovering since his exit from the job post.
|
Mancini’s record as manager |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
Mancini |
|
Games managed |
519 |
|
Countries managed in |
6 |
|
Wins |
286 |
|
Draws |
134 |
|
Losses |
99 |
|
Trophies won |
16 |
Moreover, he has also got his hands on three Serie A titles during his decorated career, with a combined 247 wins under his belt, managing in his native Italy at the very top, as well as in England in the Premier League.
Iraola only has 102 victories next to his name, managing in La Liga and the Premier League, with Newcastle showing to everyone they’re ready to enter into a daring new era, if they were to appoint Mancini.
Sandro Tonali – who has been linked with a move away from St. James’ Park – would surely be tempted to stay, too, if the 61-year-old was sensationally handed the reins, knowing what the Italian has done over his esteemed career.
Until the summer, though, Howe must ensure he gets Newcastle back to winning ways, with a drab ending to his Magpies managerial career on the cards, currently.
Better than Howe & Iraola: Newcastle could hire “one of the best managers ever”
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle project is in danger of fizzling out this season.
