EDDIE HOWE HAS been confirmed as Newcastle’s head coach after signing a contract until summer 2024 at St James’ Park.
The 43-year-old was in the directors’ box at the Amex Stadium on Saturday as the Magpies fought back to claim a 1-1 Premier League draw with Brighton.
The former Bournemouth boss succeeds Steve Bruce, who parted company with the club on 20 October.
Howe said: “It is a great honour to become head coach of a club with the stature and history of Newcastle United. It is a very proud day for me and my family.
“This is a wonderful opportunity, but there is also a lot of work ahead of us and I am eager to get on to the training ground to start working with the players.
“I would like to thank the club’s owners for this opportunity and thank the club’s supporters for the incredible welcome they have already given me. I am very excited to begin our journey together.”
Howe has been out of the game since ending his second spell in charge at Bournemouth in August 2020 after almost eight years with the club.
He inherits a side sitting in 19th place in the table and ahead of managerless Norwich only on goal difference after winning none of their first 11 games of the campaign.
The former Burnley boss, who was a reportedly serious candidate for the England job before Gareth Southgate’s appointment, has been identified as the man to take the club forward by the new largely Saudi-backed owners after a lengthy due diligence process which last week saw Villarreal boss Unai Emery resist their advances.
Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley said: “We have been incredibly impressed by Eddie through what has been a rigorous recruitment process.
“As well as his obvious achievements with AFC Bournemouth, where he had a transformational impact, he is a passionate and dynamic coach who has clear ideas about taking this team and club forward.
“He is a great fit for what we are trying to build here. We are delighted to welcome Eddie and his staff to St James’ Park and very much look forward to working together towards our collective ambitions.”
A club statement said an announcement on first-team coaching appointments will “follow in due course”.
Howe will have the international break to work with his those players not on duty with their countries before promoted Brentford head for Tyneside for his first fixture on 20 November.
There will be a series of familiar faces in the dressing room – striker Callum Wilson and midfielders Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser all worked under him during his time with the Cherries.
