It’s official – Steve Bruce is no longer Newcastle United manager after his two-year stint on Tyneside came to an end this week.
It’s the end of the era that will coincide with the start of an exciting new one following the recent confirmation of the Saudi-led takeover at St James’ Park. We always knew there would be some changes of note within the foundation of the club and the managerial post was seemingly bound to be one of the big topics of discussion. Now that Bruce is gone, the search has begun for his successor as supporters wait to see who will be tasked with keeping them in the Premier League – before then proceeding to try and win it in the years to come.
The following three candidates aren’t just popular with the bookmakers, but they’re also viable managers who could each bring something unique to what could be the big success story of the 20s in English football.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVPtjvsq3RZ/Paulo Fonseca
The allure of Paulo Fonseca dates back to his time with Shakhtar Donetsk when, for three straight seasons, he was able to win both the Ukrainian Premier League and Ukrainian Cup in what proved to be an incredibly dominant spell for the club. His tenure with Roma didn’t go quite as well as he left with just a 51% win rate but if given the opportunity to spend big in the transfer window, his risk-taking style could pay off.
Eddie Howe
The great thing about Eddie Howe was his ability to bring structure and consistency to the touchline at Bournemouth for so many years, especially when many thought the club was constantly overmatched in the top flight. The big question now is whether or not he can handle the pressure that comes with the Magpies’ financial backing, but at the age of 43, he’s definitely one for the future and a man who represents the youth movement in football management.
Lucien Favre
Sometimes it’s nice to have an established veteran come in and steady the ship and at 63 years old, Lucien Favre fits the bill. Sure, he’s best known for bringing youth players up through the ranks as opposed to splashing the cash, but Favre showed at Borussia Dortmund, Nice and every other club he’s managed that he wants to implement dynamic & attack-minded football. If anyone is going to appreciate that, it’s the Geordies.
Featured image credit: Getty