Eddie Howe addresses England job revelation in new book as Newcastle boss sets record straight

Eddie Howe has insisted that he is ‘very happy’ at Newcastle United after the Magpies boss previously revealed he would ‘love’ to one day manage England.

In a new book, ‘Cheers to 50 years…On The Sporting Frontline’, which will be released next month, Howe confirmed that taking charge of the Three Lions would be ‘something that I would love to do at some stage in my career’. However, in an interview with talkSPORT, author Graham Nickless said that the conversation took place at the end of the 2022-23 season.

The extract has since been published, following Gareth Southgate’s departure, which led to Howe telling Nickless it was ‘not the best timing’, and the Newcastle boss has now addressed those comments.

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“I have seen a few of the quotes that I’ve said historically that have come back,” he told reporters. “There’s a book coming out now. These all are historical quotes. Apart from the Gary Neville interview, they’re not quotes I’ve said in the last year.

“Wherever I’ve worked, I’ve never had a career agenda so I’ve never gone, ‘Right, I’m going to this’ because football management changes so quickly. I think England is a very special job for someone. I am very patriotic and I’m not ashamed to say that.

“I love my country. I want my country to do well. I was gutted for Gareth and the lads that they did not win the Euros, but I don’t have a burning sensation in me that I have to do it at some stage. I’ve said before if it happens at some stage in the future then it’s to be for me. If not, then, I’m very, very happy in the current role that I’m doing and the day-to-day management.”

Howe has repeatedly underlined his commitment to Newcastle and said he would stay at the club as long as he felt happy, supported and ‘free to work’ in the way that he wants following a summer of change on Tyneside and the arrival of Paul Mitchell and James Bunce as sporting director and performance director respectively.

“I absolutely want to stay, but it has to be right for me and the football club,” he added. “You have to understand, there’s no point me saying, ‘I’m absolutely going to stay’ if the dynamic is not right and it’s not going to work.”