Eddie Howe is experiencing the worst period of his Newcastle United managerial reign, and his side's poor start to the season has put him under pressure just nine months after ending the club's 70-year trophy drought. This will be the biggest test of the club's Saudi Arabian owners' patience with Howe, and they may very well have former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini on speed dial.
Brentford piled more misery on Howe and his beleaguered Magpies with a 3-1 defeat at the Gtech on Sunday (November 9), and the visitors ended the game with ten men following Dan Burn's sending off. It was another massive setback ahead of November's international break, and speculation is bound to grow that the Saudi Public Investment Fund is considering replacements.
One of those could be Mancini, who knows the Premier League well; in fact, he has a title-winning medal in his glistening trophy cabinet. The Italian steered City to top-flight glory in 2012 at the expense of Manchester United and is available, having ironically left his role as Saudi Arabia national team boss in October 2024.
Mancini The Man For Newcastle If Howe Goes
Roberto Mancini Man City 2012
Howe has a long-term deal with Newcastle, and it seemed implausible he'd be feeling the heat so soon after guiding Newcastle to the Carabao Cup in February. He cemented his legacy as one of the club's all-time greats, having not only won major trophies but also led the Tyneside giants into the Champions League.
The 47-year-old will need to battle his way out of a gloomy period, and if he doesn't, it could spell the end for the Englishman who arrived at St James' Park four years ago. If the higher-ups decide to part ways, then Mancini must be at the top of their managerial wishlist for several reasons.
Mancini is one of the most respected tacticians in world football, with a track record of success against elite coaches, including Sir Alex Ferguson, whom he beat to the title in 2012. The PIF may feel the 60-year-old is the ideal candidate to take this group of players to the next level and perhaps push them towards title contention.
GIVEMESPORT's Senior Transfer News Correspondent Dean Jones revealed in July 2024 that Mancini was a frontrunner to replace Howe if the English FA had moved for him as Gareth Southgate's successor. That didn't happen, but Jones explained that the former Inter Milan manager would have been a "serious contender."
Mancini's success speaks for itself: he has won 26 major trophies during his managerial career, including three Serie A titles and the Premier League title. He's travelled the globe over the years, including spells in Turkiye and Russia, before landing the Saudi Arabian national team job in August 2023.
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But Mancini admires English football, having spent time in England both as a player with Leicester City and as a manager with Manchester City. He became a fan favourite at the Etihad, and the passionate Toon Army requires a coach who understands the club. His players also love playing under him, including Micah Richards, who described him as "one of the world's best coaches" after spending time in his City team.