Newcastle make Mauricio Pochettino No1 target with Eddie Howe now under pressure to make quick decision on England job
NEWCASTLE are reportedly ready to swoop for Mauricio Pochettino if Eddie Howe takes the England job.
Toon chief Howe, 46, is torn between remaining with the Magpies or taking a dream post with his country.
The Mirror claim that Newcastle execs would like a swift decision, with Pochettino their No1 target if they need a new manager.
Their Premier League opener against Southampton is under a month away on August 17.
Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who have both left Newcastle, were big fans of Howe.
But new sporting director Paul Mitchell was the man who brought Poch to Southampton and may see this as the perfect opportunity for a reunion.
Mitchell and former Chelsea boss Pochettino, 52, also worked together at Tottenham.
Howe admitted he has always had an ambition to be England manager in a book due to be released next month.
SunSport exclusively revealed that he spoke about his Three Lions dream in an interview given before Gareth Southgate quit.
Asked if he would like to manage England, Howe said: “Would that be something I would like to do at some stage of my career? Yes!
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“But I’m quite laid-back about it because I’m a believer that what will be, will be. If it’s meant to happen for me it will — if not, it won’t.
“I’m a huge fan of Gareth’s, he’s done brilliant things for England.”
In the book, Cheers to 50 Years . . . On the Sporting Frontline, Howe added: “As a kid I loved England.
“I loved pretending to be playing for England in the garden and I was Gary Lineker.
“I loved Gary Lineker — he was one of my idols. I know I didn’t score goals but I tried and ended up being a defender.
“I was very passionate and still am about my country and England doing well.”
England chiefs see Howe as a leading candidate for the job.
Pochettino himself is another option, while Graham Potter and Lee Carsley have been strongly backed.
Howe broke his silence and addressed his future as he spoke to reporters at the Toon’s pre-season training camp in Germany on Friday.
England's job advert for new boss
The FA's seven requirements to succeed Gareth Southgate:
- 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.
Howe said: “For me, being very proud to be Newcastle manager, this is all about Newcastle.
“It’s not about England so as long as I’m happy, feel supported, feel free to work in a way that I want to work, I’ve not thought of anything else other than Newcastle.
“I absolutely love the club. I love the supporters. I love where I am at in my career. There’s no better place for me to be. That’s how I feel.
“I hope that from the answer that I’ve just given that there’s everything you need to know in there.
“For me, it’s not about England. England is absolutely someone else’s conversation. It’s not mine. Mine is Newcastle.
“To speak about something else while manager of Newcastle is wrong. I don’t think I have to say the answer again. The answer is clear.”
Newcastle failed to reach Europe last campaign after suffering a serious number of injuries when his hands were tied in the transfer market because of Financial Fair Play limitations.
But with the new PSR window now open, whoever is in the dugout will be backed by Toon’s Saudi owners.
Harry Redknapp: Lampard or Gerrard should be next England manager
I’VE a message for all those who reckon the search for England’s next manager is a two-horse race — you’re bang on!
And while we’re at it, here’s another… I bet very few of you have narrowed it down to the same couple of candidates as me.
If the odds are spot-on, finding Gareth Southgate’s replacement is a toss-up between Eddie Howe and Graham Potter.
Well in my book it’s a straight head-to-head, too. But I’m even more convinced that the men I see as obvious front-runners will be lucky to even get an interview.
I doubt there are many who’d agree with me either, when I say the FA should look no further than Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard for the next Three Lions boss.
Either of them could do the job standing on their head, yet probably neither will get so much as a phone call.
Mind you, plenty of people will insist there’s no reason why they should because they’ve already written off both as failures.
Forgetting that Frank reached an FA Cup final and finished fourth in his first spell at Chelsea.
Or the fact that Everton were in such a mess, he never had a prayer when he went there.
There’s every chance they’ll gloss over Stevie’s time at Rangers, despite their first title win in a decade — unbeaten as well — and say he was a flop at Aston Villa.
But you show me a manager who’s not had a tough time of it somewhere down the line. Potter certainly did at Chelsea — he only lasted 31 games and lost 11 of them.
So did Unai Emery, the man who replaced Stevie as boss at Villa, when he was Arsenal manager. It happens to everyone out there.
So what’s the difference between Potter and Frank?
Why is one an obvious candidate for England, yet the other not even worthy of a mention?
Nothing against Eddie or Graham, by the way. Eddie’s doing well enough at Newcastle without absolutely tearing it up.
And Potter did a good job at Brighton before Chelsea but he had good recruitment and was working with good players.
Look at some of the names he had and where they ended up.
Alexis Mac Allister won the World Cup and went to Liverpool. Leandro Trossard is at Arsenal, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea, Yves Bissouma is with Tottenham.
There’s no doubt Potter or Howe would be a safe pair of hands. A steady Eddie. Just like Gareth was eight years ago — which is why they will probably get a chance.
But if the FA want someone steeped in football knowledge — at international level too — and who knows the game inside out at that level, both Frank and Stevie leave them standing.
The players would love it as well. They’d be desperate to play for them.
They would have nothing but respect whether it was Lampard or Gerrard as boss.
So, are they both on the scrapheap for good because they’ve had a failure somewhere down the line? There won’t be any managers left before long if that’s all it takes.
And here’s another thing as well. While you need a thick skin to be a club manager, it’s not a patch on the one demanded at international level.
That goes for players — certainly the senior ones — as well. And Stevie and Frank could tell you all about that better than most.
Some of the stuff Frank had to put up with back in the day was horrendous, horrible stuff.
It was the same for Gerro, especially when he was captain.
But the pair of them stood up and came through it. And that’s the sort of character you want and need as England manager.
It’s not about being a fantastic coach. When do you really get the chance to prove that with England? You don’t.
You’re not out there every day doing shape, shadow play and the like. For one thing you tend to pick the team at the last minute because you don’t want it leaking out!
It’s about managing, not coaching and there is a difference. It’s about picking the best players in the right positions.
It’s about attacking and being positive — and in my book, nothing would be more positive than giving Stevie or Frank a call.
But I’d be very surprised if anyone at the FA even picks up the phone and dials their numbers.