The truth of why Eddie Howe didn’t make new England manager shortlist | OneFootball

Eddie Howe is not the new England manager.

He has not become the long-term replacement for Gareth Southgate.

Instead, this week saw Thomas Tuchel announced as the man to do the job up to and including the 2026 World Cup finals, assuming England qualify…

As you will be aware, a lot of nonsense in the English media about whether or not Thomas Tuchel was the right choice.

Some quite ridiculous stuff.

Talking of the ridiculous coverage by the media, also a lot of embarrassing ludicrous stuff about who didn’t get the job.

Which brings me to Eddie Howe.

I have seen all sorts of headlines that are laugh out loud.

Headlines saying Eddie Howe was ‘snubbed’ by The FA, how the Newcastle United boss wasn’t even on the ‘shortlist’ that The FA compiled, wasn’t even one of the ten candidates who ended up being interviewed.

It was entirely predictable that so many journalists, so many pundits, so many ‘experts’, would be looking to make this into a negative Newcastle United story.

The slant that many of them are taking is that just look at Eddie Howe, this sums up how poor English coaches/managers are, that is why he was snubbed, couldn’t even make the shortlist and so on.

The reality is of course something very different.

What all the media conveniently forget, want to ignore, is the process The FA put in place to appoint the new England manager.

Friday 2 August was the deadline set by The FA (see below) for those interested in becoming the new England manager, to make it known.

Eddie Howe had been the bookies favourite pretty ever since Gareth Southgate announced he was stepping down. Which is perfectly understandable as he was by far the best candidate. An outstanding young English manager, who took Bournemouth from the brink of non-league, all the way through to the Premier League. Then came in when the situation looked absolutely hopeless mid-season thanks to Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce in 2021/22, not only saved Newcastle United from relegation, but took them to the third best form in the Premier League across the final 19 games of that season. Before a brilliant top four finish in 2022/23, then dealing with the worst ever season in Newcastle’s entire history with injuries and yet still finishing only eight points off top four last season.

Whilst Lee Carsley and Graham Potter ended up staying towards the top end of the betting it was basically because there were no other even remotely credible English candidates. Put it this way, the next highest in the betting who was English… Frank Lampard!!!

Basically, what it boils down to and why Thomas Tuchel ended up getting the job, was because he was the very best manager from overseas who applied, due to no credible English candidate, in the eyes of The FA, applying for the job, making it known they would be interested.

Let us go back to when that 2 August 2024 deadline was approaching…

Whilst out in Japan on a pre-season tour, the Newcastle United Head Coach quizzed on whether he would be the next boss of England and abandon Newcastle United…

Eddie Howe asked about media claims he will be the next England manager – 30 July 2024:

“I am fully committed to Newcastle United.

“There is nothing to talk about.

“I do not need to address the players.

“They know by how I act.

“They can see how I am on a daily basis, to see how committed I am to the club.”

Once Eddie Howe said that and other reporting around the fact that he had no interest in the job, he dropped to third in the betting behind Graham Potter and Lee Carsley. Eddie Howe only staying up there, despite making clear he had no interest in the job, because there was literally no other English candidates, unless you counted Frank Lampard(!!!), the same with Potter and Carsley really as well.

It was never a case of Eddie Howe not being good enough, or The FA not wanting him.

Instead, it was a case of Eddie Howe having zero interest in the vacancy and The FA having no chance of getting him.

Eddie Howe wasn’t on the shortlist because he didn’t indicate he had any interest whatsoever in the job.

Eddie Howe wasn’t one of the ten candidates interviewed because he didn’t apply, didn’t make any interest known.

It is beyond belief AND yet absolutely predictable, that this has been turned into a negative story about Eddie Howe and Newcastle United.

The media should be celebrating the fact that Eddie Howe has done a brilliant job at Newcastle United, is fiercely ambitious and believes that if given the right tools, he can buck the trend and go on to become the rarest of things, an English manager competing at the very top of the Premier League.

It would have been the EASY route to take for the Newcastle boss, if Eddie Howe had made known he would take the job (and if so, for sure would have been appointed), he would have been given a far longer contract than Thomas Tuchel has been given and had an initial comfortable 18 months or so guiding England to the 2026 World Cup finals, before nay real pressure came on him.

Instead though he is totally committed to Newcastle United AND that is what the media really hate!

The FA advert for the next England Head Coach – 19 July 2024:

We are currently overseeing a highly targeted process to appoint the next Head Coach of the England Men’s Senior Team.

England Men’s Senior Team Head Coach (NFCSGP0377)

Division:Men’s Technical

Location:National Football Centre, St George’s Park

Closing Date:2 August 2024

Our succession planning process has already identified a number of candidates; in addition to this we are committed to open recruitment processes in the football industry and are interested in hearing from individuals who meet the following criteria:

THE ROLE

Lead and develop the England senior men’s team to win a major tournament and be consistently ranked as one of the top teams in the world. Provide inspiring leadership to a world class, multi-disciplinary technical team based at St. George’s Park. Develop and maintain strong relationships with clubs who employ English qualified players.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Will hold a UEFA Pro License. Will have significant experience of English football, with a strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions. Will be an exceptional leader who understands and will enjoy the international football environment. Will be experienced in successfully identifying, managing and developing English qualified players. Will be highly resilient and comfortable in a very high-profile role with intense public scrutiny. Will have a track record of creating a high performing, positive team culture and environment. Will have strong personal values and integrity and understand and embrace the role that the England Men’s Senior Team Head Coach has inspiring the nation.