LONDON: Newcastle ended their long wait to hire a new manager on Monday, unveiling former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe as the man to lead the Magpies into a new era under Saudi ownership.
Howe, 43, takes charge of a side languishing second from bottom of the Premier League, five points from safety, and without a win all season.
He replaces Steve Bruce, who left the club by “mutual consent” on October 20, two weeks after the Saudi-led takeover propelled the club into the ranks of the super-rich.
Newcastle said Howe, who was not first choice, had been handed a contract “until summer 2024.”
“We have been incredibly impressed by Eddie through what has been a rigorous recruitment process,” said co-owner Amanda Staveley.
“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.”
Howe said it was a “great honor” to take the helm at a club with the stature and history of Newcastle, who have not won a major trophy since 1969 despite a huge and passionate fanbase.
“This is a wonderful opportunity, but there is also a lot of work ahead of us and I am eager to get onto the training ground to start working with the players,” he said.
Former England and Newcastle forward Alan Shearer welcomed Howe, tweeting: “Good luck Eddie. We all hope you can bring us some much-needed drive and ambition.”
And Newcastle United Supporters Trust chairman Greg Tomlinson hailed the appointment of a “progressive, modern manager.”
“A big challenge to stay up but our long-term future is bright,” he tweeted.
Newcastle’s new owners had to pivot toward Howe after Villarreal boss Unai Emery turned down an approach to be Bruce’s successor.
Newcastle — now one of the richest clubs in the world — are expected to invest heavily in the January transfer market.
But they have another nine league games to navigate before then, including daunting clashes with Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Just staying in the lucrative top flight this season would represent success for Howe.
Governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) Yassir Al-Rumayyan was in attendance for a 3-2 home defeat to Tottenham last month in the first match since the takeover.
Bruce left the club days later but Newcastle have continued to struggle under caretaker boss Graeme Jones, taking just two points from their past three fixtures.
Howe, who had two spells at Bournemouth, has been out of work since leaving the club in August 2020, days after their relegation from the Premier League.
The south coast club had risen from the fourth tier to become an established top-flight team under Howe.
The new manager’s first game in charge of Newcastle will be at home to struggling Brentford on November 20, following the international break.
Saudi-owned Newcastle appoint Eddie Howe as new manager
https://arab.news/mk8rx
Saudi-owned Newcastle appoint Eddie Howe as new manager
- The former Bournemouth boss succeeds Steve Bruce, who left the Premier League club by ‘mutual consent’ on October 20
- Howe, 43, said: ‘It is a great honor to become head coach of a club with the stature and history of Newcastle United’
China beat North Korea 2-1 to take top spot in Group B
- Uzbekistan finished third in the group with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh in Perth, also securing a spot in the knockout stage
SYDNEY: Defending champion China edged North Korea 2-1 in a physical, high-energy game Monday to take top spot in Group B in the Women’s Asian Cup.
The result sent North Korea into a quarterfinal Friday against Australia in Perth, where the hosts and 2023 World Cup semifinalists opened the tournament with a win over Philippines.
China and North Korea were already assured of quarterfinal spots with two wins apiece ahead of their showdown at Western Sydney Stadium. Uzbekistan finished third in the group with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh in Perth, also securing a spot in the knockout stage.
Playing in their first Women’s Asian Cup tournament since losing the 2010 final to Australia, North Korea only needed a draw against China to top the group. And they took the lead when Kim Kyong Yong finished off a counter-attacking goal in the 32nd minute, the first shot on goal in the game.
The lead was shortlived, though, with China equalizing two minutes later with Chen Qiaozhu’s stunning strike through traffic from the edge of the area.
China went ahead in a tense finish to the first half, when Wang Shuang’s goal was awarded after a VAR review deep in stoppage time.
The VAR decision to overturn the assistant referee’s offside call upset the North Korean players and led to coach Ri Song Ho being yellow carded by referee Thi Ly Le as his team protested on the sideline. The North Korean players didn’t return to the pitch before halftime was called.
Both teams had chances in the second half, with North Korea goalkeeper Yu Son Gum making a full-length diving save to Wang’s powerful left-foot shot in the 78th, and then 19-year-old Choe Il Son appearing to equalize two minutes later before being ruled offside after a VAR review.
In Perth, Dildora Nozimova scored twice in six minutes for Uzbekistan, her first just two minutes after entering the game as a substitute on the hour.
State of play
The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.
In Group A, South Korea edged Australia for top spot on goal difference after the 3-3 draw in Sydney on Sunday night. The South Koreans will play the third-place team from either Group B or Group C in the quarterfinals. Philippines still have a narrow chance of advancing after placing third, finishing with a win over Iran. That put Iran women’s team out of contention, and facing the prospect of a return to country at war.
In Group C, two-time champion Japan lead with six points ahead of their last group match against Vietnam, who are tied with Taiwan for second spot on three points. Taiwan finish the group stage against India.
