The Eddie Howe stellar managerial career really kicked off exactly 15 years ago today | OneFootball

Eddie Howe, stellar managerial career, surely some mistake?

That is what those lacking any integrity would have you believe, claiming that Eddie Howe has been something other than an outstanding success these past sixteen or so years.

On 31 December 2008, a 31 year old Eddie Howe was given his first opportunity.

Bournemouth were in freefall and looked certainties to drop into non-league.

Eddie Howe took over from Jimmy Quinn with relegation looking a foregone conclusion, the club having had 17 points deducted due to the circumstances of Bournemouth having gone into administration.

An incredible turn around saw the Cherries somehow survive thanks to Howe.

Then the following season Eddie Howe remarkably guided Bournemouth to promotion.

That promotion was sealed exactly 15 years ago today, very appropriately today having been the day when Newcastle United announced that Eddie Howe had recovered from pneumonia and was back at work.

This is a brief rundown of the highlights of this stellar Eddie Howe managerial career, so far:

2008/09 – Saved Bournemouth from falling into non-league football, coming into the manager’s job mid-season when all looked lost for sure.

2009/10 – Bournemouth promoted to League One on 24 April 2010 thanks to a 2-0 win at Burton.

2012/13 – Bournemouth promoted to the Championship.

2014/15 – Bournemouth promoted to the Premier League.

2015/16 – Bournemouth surviving in the Premier League, finishing 16th.

2016/17 – Bournemouth in the Premier League, finishing 9th.

2017/18 – Bournemouth in the Premier League, finishing 12th.

2018/19 – Bournemouth in the Premier League, finishing 14th.

2019/20 – Bournemouth very unlucky to be relegated from the Premier League, finishing 18th. A number of results going against them on the final day of the season.

2021/22 – Rescued Newcastle United from what looked an impossible position, not only saving NUFC from relegation, but unbelievably, the second half of the season seeing only Liverpool and Man City pick up more points than Newcastle United.

2022/23 – Newcastle United finish fourth and get Champions League football for the first time in two decades, also get to the first cup final in 24 years.

2023/24 – Despite the worse season for injuries in Newcastle’s entire history, plus the Tonali suspension,, Eddie Howe guided NUFC to only six points off fifth place, eight points off fourth.

2024/25 – Newcastle United win their first domestic trophy in 70 years and if winning on Saturday against Ipswich, will be third in the table with four games left to play.

Those without integrity will say; “Stellar managerial career? Eddie Howe hasn’t won the Premier League, Champions League…” (YET!!!)

The reality is that any manager can only manage with the situation they have.

To take tiny Bournemouth (after saving them from what looked a certain drop into non-league) all the way through the divisions and then establish them in the Premier League for all of those years, basically set them up for the ongoing success they are enjoying now. Astonishing by Eddie Howe.

Whilst at Newcastle United?

Well, against all odds, competing with clubs that have far more expensive squads, far higher wage bills, what Eddie Howe has achieved at NUFC is beyond belief.

After the last three transfer windows have prevented a single new signing coming in to compete for a first team place, this summer all that changes.

Eddie Howe and Newcastle United once again able to invest in some first team signings.