Edward John Frank Howe (born 29 November 1977) is an English professional football manager and former player, who is the manager of Premier League club Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe
Howe in 2015
Personal information
Full name Edward John Frank Howe[1]
Date of birth (1977-11-29) 29 November 1977 (age 47)[1]
Place of birth Amersham, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back[1]
Team information
Current team
Newcastle United (manager)
Youth career
0000–1994 AFC Bournemouth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–2002 AFC Bournemouth 200 (10)
2002–2004 Portsmouth 2 (0)
2004Swindon Town (loan) 0 (0)
2004AFC Bournemouth (loan) 17 (1)
2004–2007 AFC Bournemouth 53 (1)
Total 272 (12)
International career
1998 England U21 2 (0)
Managerial career
2008–2011 AFC Bournemouth
2011–2012 Burnley
2012–2020 AFC Bournemouth
2021– Newcastle United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A centre-back during his playing career, Howe spent most of his playing career with AFC Bournemouth, coming up through the youth system and spending eight years with the club, before returning for a second three-year spell to end his career, and retiring from the professional game in 2007. He entered management the following year, taking charge of a Bournemouth side facing relegation to the Conference National in January 2009 as the youngest manager in the Football League.[3] Under his guidance, Bournemouth were able to avoid relegation during his first season in charge, having started the season on minus 17 points, and were promoted to League One the following campaign.

After a brief spell as manager at Burnley, Howe returned to Bournemouth, and led them to two further promotions in three seasons, taking them to the top division of English football. He was subsequently named Football League Manager of the Decade in 2015 following three promotions in a seven-year period.[4][5] Bournemouth survived in the Premier League for the next five seasons under Howe, before suffering relegation to the Championship in 2020. He resigned as manager of Bournemouth after the club's relegation. At the time of his departure, Howe was the longest-serving manager in the Premier League.[6] After a year away from the game, Howe returned to management in 2021 when he was appointed as head coach of Newcastle United following the takeover of the club.

Playing career

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Howe was born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.[1] When very young, he moved to Verwood in Dorset, and later began his footballing career with local youth teams Rossgarth[7] and Parley Sports[8] before starting his professional career at AFC Bournemouth.[9] He made his first-team debut in December 1995 against Hull City.[7] Howe established himself as an important player in Bournemouth's defence, and in 1998, he was selected for the England Under-21 team in the Toulon Tournament.[7]

In March 2002, Portsmouth signed Howe for £400,000, making him new manager Harry Redknapp's first signing. Shortly after signing, a knee injury on his debut against Preston North End[10] ended his season.

He returned for the opening game of the 2002–03 season against Nottingham Forest, but he injured his knee again after only nine minutes[11] and was ruled out for the entire campaign. He did not return to full fitness until January 2004 after 18 months out. He was loaned to Swindon Town on transfer deadline day in March, although he did not feature for the club.

Portsmouth loaned Howe back to Bournemouth for the first three months of the 2004–05 season. He proved to be successful on his return to his first club after two injury-ravaged seasons with Portsmouth. With the club in a very poor financial state, supporters joined to create "Eddieshare" to fund a transfer fee. Days later, £21,000 was raised to fund the required permanent transfer fee.[7] After a further three seasons and over 270 appearances, injuries forced his retirement as a player in 2007 and he then moved into coaching with the reserve squad.[7]

Managerial career

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Early career

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In December 2006, at the age of 29, Howe was promoted to the position of player-coach by manager Kevin Bond, and handed the task of coaching Bournemouth's reserve team, though he continued to play in the first team. He retired from football in summer 2007, after he was unable to recover from a knee injury.[12] In September 2008, Howe lost his job when Bond was sacked as manager.[7]

AFC Bournemouth

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Howe returned to Bournemouth as a youth coach under Jimmy Quinn and took over as caretaker manager when Quinn was sacked on 31 December 2008.[13] Even though his two games in charge as caretaker manager were away defeats, he was hired as the permanent manager of the club on 19 January 2009 and brought the club out of the relegation zone despite a 17-point deficit.

In the start of the 2009–10 season, Howe won eight out of the nine games, a club record. In November 2009, Championship club Peterborough United approached Howe to replace Darren Ferguson as their manager but Howe rejected their approach.[14]

Despite the club's transfer embargo remaining in place for the rest of the season, Bournemouth secured promotion to League One after two years in the fourth tier of English football thanks to a 2–0 away win at Burton Albion on 24 April 2010.[15]

In early 2011, Howe was approached by several other clubs but on 11 January announced that he was staying at Bournemouth.[16] However, on 14 January 2011, Howe became the new Burnley manager after the club agreed a compensation deal with AFC Bournemouth.[17][18] He took charge of his 100th and final Bournemouth match of his first managerial spell with the club, later that day in a 2–1 defeat away to Colchester United.[19]

Burnley

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On 16 January 2011, Howe was announced as the new manager of Burnley after signing a three-and-a-half-year contract at the Championship club.[20] His first game in charge of Burnley was away to Scunthorpe on 22 January 2011, which ended in a 0–0 draw.[21] Burnley finished eighth in the Championship in season 2010–11 and 13th in season 2011–12 under Howe.[22][23] He left Burnley in October 2012 citing "personal reasons" for his departure.[24]

Return to AFC Bournemouth

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In October 2012, he re-joined his former club Bournemouth as manager.[7] He won the League One Manager of the Month for November after guiding the club to three league wins and two draws, as well as an FA Cup victory. On 20 April 2013, he secured promotion to the Championship with Bournemouth finishing runners-up and one point behind champions Doncaster Rovers.[25][26] In the 2013–14 season, Howe's Bournemouth finished tenth in the Championship, six points outside of the play-off positions.[27]

On 19 April 2015, Howe was selected as the Manager of the Decade at the Football League Awards.[28]

On 27 April 2015, he secured Bournemouth's promotion to the Premier League.[29] Bournemouth beat Bolton Wanderers 3–0 at the Goldsands Stadium, a win which while not guaranteeing Premier League football for the 2015–16 season, required third placed side Middlesbrough to overcome a 19-goal goal difference with one game left in the season. Howe said of the promotion and of Bournemouth supporters: "It shouldn't be them thanking me, it should be me thanking them. It is a family club and deserves its moment in the sun."[30] Bournemouth confirmed their promotion on the last day of the season, 2 May 2015, with a 3–0 victory at Charlton Athletic and, due to already-promoted Watford's failure to win their last match, were crowned champions of the league.[31]

Howe guided Bournemouth to Premier League survival in their first season in the top flight football, with a 16th-place finish seeing them five points clear of the relegation zone.[32] An even better campaign in 2016–17 saw Bournemouth finish ninth.[33] A year later, he took them to 12th place in the Premier League to secure a fourth consecutive campaign at this level.[34]

 
Howe managing AFC Bournemouth in 2017

Howe's side finished in 14th in the 2018–19 Premier League, but the club's five-year stay in the Premier League ended in 2019–20 after Bournemouth finished in 18th place.[35]

On 1 August 2020, Bournemouth announced that Howe had left the club by mutual consent, after eight years in charge.[36] He became noted at Bournemouth for bringing in young players, improving them, and selling them on at a financial profit.[37]

In May 2021, Howe rejected an offer to become the manager of Celtic.[38] A club statement blamed factors "outwith both his and our control" for the breakdown in their negotiations.[38]

Newcastle United

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Howe was appointed to replace Steve Bruce as the manager of Premier League club Newcastle United on 8 November 2021, signing a contract until the summer of 2024.[39] Howe watched from the stands as the club drew 1–1 with Brighton & Hove Albion,[40] in a game in which Graeme Jones was acting as caretaker manager. Jones was retained as first team assistant coach as part of Howe's new coaching staff, which also included Jason Tindall, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone, whom he worked with at Bournemouth, as well as retained Newcastle goalkeeping coach Simon Smith.

His appointment at Newcastle also reunited him with former players at Bournemouth, such as Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser.[40] On 19 November 2021, Newcastle announced that Howe had tested positive for COVID-19 and would miss the first game in charge.[41] He watched his first game as manager from a hotel room as Newcastle drew 3–3 with Brentford on 20 November.[42]

On 20 April 2022, following a 1–0 victory against Crystal Palace, Howe guided Newcastle to a sixth successive home win, the first time the club had achieved such a feat since 2004 under Sir Bobby Robson.[43] He guided Newcastle to an eleventh place finish in the Premier League after winning twelve in the last 18 games of the season, and made sure Newcastle became the first team in Premier League history to avoid relegation after not winning any of the first 14 games they played.[44] On 5 August 2022, Howe was rewarded with a long-term contract at the club.[45]

On 31 January 2023, Howe guided Newcastle to the EFL Cup final following a 3–1 aggregate victory over Southampton; their first cup final in over 23 years.[46]

On 22 May 2023, following a goalless home draw against Leicester City, Howe guided Newcastle to a top-four finish in the Premier League and qualification for the UEFA Champions League, their first entry into the competition since 2002–03.[47]

In the Champions League, Newcastle United finished bottom of their group with five points, failing to qualify for both the round of 16 and the Europa League,[48] despite beating French Ligue 1 champions Paris-Saint-Germain 4–1 in Newcastle's first home Champions League match in 20 years.[49]

On 6 January 2024, in the third round of FA Cup, in the 157th Tyne-Wear derby, Howe led Newcastle to victory over Sunderland, a 3–0 win at the Stadium of Light. This marked Newcastle's first win over the Black Cats since 2011.[50]

Managerial style

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Howe completed his coaching badges with the Irish FA in 2011, implementing a tactically flexible system with the teams that he manages.[51] Howe's coaching style has been influenced by such football managers as Jurgen Klopp, Johan Cruyff and Diego Simeone, having spent time observing the latter's training methods after leaving Bournemouth.[52] Many of Howe's man-management techniques have been influenced by John Wooden, former American college basketball coach.[53]

Tactically, Howe prefers a 4–3–3 in possession, switching to a 4–5–1 out of possession, with an emphasis placed on pressing the oppositions defence, resulting in a higher amount of quick-turnovers.[54] During the 2023–24 Premier League season, Newcastle United had increased defensive injuries, forcing Howe to use 3–4–2–1 and 4–4–2, however this meant that the team produced their highest ever goal scoring campaign, netting 85 goals in 38 games.[55]

Personal life

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Howe and his wife Vicki have three sons.[56] On 5 March 2019, Howe was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Bournemouth by Bournemouth Borough Council.[57][58][59] His childhood club was Everton.[60] During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Howe became the first Premier League manager to take a pay cut.[61] His half brother, Steve Lovell, is a scout at Bournemouth.[62]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[63]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AFC Bournemouth 1995–96 Second Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
1996–97 Second Division 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
1997–98 Second Division 40 1 3 0 2 0 5[a] 0 50 1
1998–99 Second Division 45 2 4 2 4 1 3[a] 0 46 5
1999–2000 Second Division 28 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 33 1
2000–01 Second Division 31 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 35 2
2001–02 Second Division 38 4 2 0 1 0 1 0 42 4
Total 200 10 12 2 13 1 9 0 234 13
Portsmouth 2001–02 First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2002–03 First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Swindon Town (loan) 2003–04 Second Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AFC Bournemouth 2004–05 League One 35 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 40 1
2005–06 League One 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
2006–07 League One 15 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 1
Total 70 2 4 0 2 0 0 0 76 2
Career total 272 12 16 2 15 1 9 0 312 15
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Football League Trophy

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 21 December 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref.
P W D L Win %
AFC Bournemouth 31 December 2008 16 January 2011 102 51 18 33 050.00 [13][64]
Burnley 16 January 2011 12 October 2012 87 34 19 34 039.08 [64]
AFC Bournemouth 12 October 2012 1 August 2020 356 143 77 136 040.17 [64]
Newcastle United 8 November 2021 Present 146 70 36 40 047.95 [64]
Total 691 298 150 243 043.13

Honours

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AFC Bournemouth

Newcastle United

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Eddie Howe". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  2. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 196. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
  3. ^ "Howe handed permanent role". Sky Sports. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  4. ^ Fifield, Dominic (28 April 2015). "Eddie Howe writes new chapter for AFC Bournemouth – now for the legacy". The Guardian. London.
  5. ^ Hassan, Nabil (28 April 2015). "Bournemouth achieving the impossible – chairman Jeff Mostyn". BBC Sport.
  6. ^ "Eddie Howe set to become Premier League's longest-serving active boss as Arsene Wenger prepares to depart Arsenal". Bournemouth Echo. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "The return of Eddie Howe". AFC Bournemouth. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  8. ^ "What's Cherries manager Eddie Howe really like?". Bournemouth Echo. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  9. ^ "Eddie Howe". AFC Bournemouth. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Preston 2–0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  11. ^ "Portsmouth 2–0 N Forest". BBC Sport. 10 August 2002. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Bournemouth defender Howe retires". BBC Sport. 23 June 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  13. ^ a b "Quinn parts company with Cherries". BBC Sport. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  14. ^ "My heart is at Bournemouth — Howe". BBC Sport. 12 November 2009.
  15. ^ a b "League Two Focus: Bournemouth promoted". The Sunday Times. London. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.[dead link]
  16. ^ "Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe to stay at Dean Court". BBC Sport. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  17. ^ "Cherries: Howe agrees terms with Burnley (Updated)". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  18. ^ "Howe confirmed as Burnley manager". BBC Sport. 16 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Colchester 2–1 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  20. ^ "Eddie Howe appointed Burnley manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Scunthorpe 0–0 Burnley". BBC Sport. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  22. ^ "Burnley 2010–11". Statto. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  23. ^ "Burnley 2011–12". Statto. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
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  25. ^ "Cherries: Howe named manager of the month". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  26. ^ a b "Bournemouth 2012–13". Statto. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  27. ^ "Bournemouth 2013–14". Statto. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  28. ^ "Winners announced for The Football League Awards 2015". The Football League. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  29. ^ Martin, Andy. "Never been a day like it! Cherries achieve the impossible dream of Premier League football". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  30. ^ "Bournemouth 3–0 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  31. ^ a b "Charlton 0–3 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  32. ^ "2016/17 preview: Cherries primed for second term". www.premierleague.com.
  33. ^ "PICTURES: Cherries claim Leicester draw to seal ninth-place Premier League finish". Bournemouth Echo.
  34. ^ "AFC Bournemouth's 12th-place Premier League finish a huge achievement, says Eddie Howe". Sky Sports.
  35. ^ "Everton 1–3 AFC Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  36. ^ "Statement: Eddie Howe Leaves Club by Mutual Consent". AFC Bournemouth. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  37. ^ McLaughlin, Chris (1 April 2021). "Celtic talks with Howe at advanced stage". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  38. ^ a b McLaughlin, Chris (28 May 2021). "Celtic: Eddie Howe rejects managerial vacancy 'for reasons outwith his or Celtic's control'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  39. ^ "Eddie Howe: Newcastle appoint former Bournemouth manager as replacement for Steve Bruce". Sky Sports. 8 November 2021. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  40. ^ a b "Newcastle appoint Howe as head coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  41. ^ "Eddie Howe: Newcastle United boss to miss first game after positive Covid-19 test". BBC Sport. 19 November 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  42. ^ "Newcastle United 3 Brentford 3". BBC Sport. 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  43. ^ "Newcastle United 1–0 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  44. ^ "Burnley 1–2 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  45. ^ "Eddie Howe agrees new long-term contract". Newcastle United. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  46. ^ "Newcastle beat Southampton to reach EFL Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  47. ^ Cunningham, Jack (22 May 2023). "When did Newcastle last play in the Champions League? Toon end exile". talkSPORT. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  48. ^ "Champions League: Arsenal and Man City through but Manchester United, Celtic and Newcastle exit early". Sky Sports.
  49. ^ "Dominant Newcastle roar to home victory over PSG". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  50. ^ "Sunderland 0 Newcastle United 3". Newcastle United Football Club. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  51. ^ Walker, Michael. "'Exceptional' Eddie Howe and the coaching course teaching set pieces and sleep patterns". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  52. ^ Taylor, Louise (3 February 2023). "Dark arts and intensity: why Howe's Newcastle are so hard to score against". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  53. ^ "Eddie Howe: What can Newcastle expect from new manager?". BBC Sport. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  54. ^ Walker, Michael. "'Exceptional' Eddie Howe and the coaching course teaching set pieces and sleep patterns". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  55. ^ "Newcastle United Stats, Form & xG | FootyStats". footystats.org. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  56. ^ "Eddie and Vicki Howe welcome their third son into the world". Bournemouth Echo. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  57. ^ "Howe to be given Freedom of Bournemouth". BBC News. 25 February 2019.
  58. ^ "Eddie Howe to receive Freedom of the Borough". www.bournemouth.gov.uk.
  59. ^ "Howe awarded Freedom of Bournemouth". BBC News. 6 March 2019.
  60. ^ "Eddie Howe: My Everton dream – and how I started supporting the Blues". Liverpool Echo. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  61. ^ "Eddie Howe first Premier League boss to take pay cut". BBC Sport. 1 April 2020.
  62. ^ "Eddie Howe's brother that played for Aberdeen and Dundee". April 2021.
  63. ^ Eddie Howe at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  64. ^ a b c d "Managers: Eddie Howe". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  65. ^ McNulty, Phil (26 February 2023). "Manchester United 2–0 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  66. ^ "Howe named Manager of the Month". Football League. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  67. ^ "Howe named Manager of the Month". Football League. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  68. ^ "Bournemouth's Howe and Wilson secure October awards". Sky Sports. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  69. ^ "Eddie Howe takes Championship manager award". Sky Sports. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  70. ^ "The Football League announces its Team of the Decade". EFL.com. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  71. ^ a b "AFC Bournemouth boss is LMA manager of the year". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  72. ^ "Manager Profile: Eddie Howe". Premier League. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
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