Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle after five years

Eddie Howe has stepped down as Newcastle United head coach, ending a remarkable spell that transformed the Magpies from relegation candidates into Champions League contenders and ended the club’s 56-year wait for a major domestic trophy.

The 48-year-old leaves following discussions with the club’s hierarchy after a difficult summer marked by uncertainty over Newcastle’s transfer plans.

His decision comes after the departures of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while club captain Bruno Guimarães has also indicated his desire to leave.

Howe arrived at St James’ Park in November 2021, replacing Steve Bruce with Newcastle struggling near the bottom of the Premier League.

Within two seasons, he had guided the club back to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in more than 20 years after a fourth-place finish.

His greatest achievement came in March 2025 when Newcastle defeated Liverpool 2-1 to lift the Carabao Cup, ending the club’s long wait for a major domestic trophy and cementing his place among Newcastle's most successful modern managers.

Born in Amersham, England, on November 29, 1977, Howe spent most of his playing career as a central defender with AFC Bournemouth.

He made more than 300 appearances for the club across two spells and also played briefly for Portsmouth before returning to Bournemouth, where recurring knee injuries forced him to retire in 2007.

Although he won no major honours as a player, Howe quickly established himself as one of England’s brightest young coaches.

Appointed Bournemouth manager in 2008 at the age of 31, he rescued the financially troubled club from relegation out of the Football League before leading them to promotion from League Two.

After a short spell at Burnley, he returned to Bournemouth in 2012 and completed one of English football’s greatest success stories by guiding the Cherries to the Championship title in 2015 and their first-ever promotion to the Premier League.

Bournemouth remained in the top flight for five consecutive seasons under his leadership.

Throughout his managerial career, Howe built a reputation for improving players and recruiting wisely.

At Bournemouth, he helped develop Callum Wilson, Joshua King, Ryan Fraser and Lewis Cook, while also signing players such as Dominic Solanke and Arnaut Danjuma.

At Newcastle, he played a key role in building a squad around stars including Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento, Harvey Barnes and Lewis Hall, helping the club re-establish itself among England’s elite.