Eddie Howe has been a transformative manager for Newcastle United.
The 47-year-old has been incredible since arriving at St James’ Park, guiding the club to safety and then into the Champions League. He has also made it to two cup finals, and could end Newcastle’s trophy drought on Sunday.
Following the takeover, Newcastle United could not have picked a better manager. Eddie Howe has raised standards, while his ability to improve players has played a huge part in his team doing so well. While big signings have arrived, he has not solely relied on PIF’s riches.
He has created a united Newcastle, with players from the past and present paying tribute to the former Bournemouth boss.
Matt Ritchie’s incredible tribute to Eddie Howe
One of those players is Matt Ritchie, who played for Howe twice in his career.
They first worked together at Bournemouth, while Ritchie was part of the Newcastle United squad that Howe inherited from Steve Bruce.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Ritchie and Howe had a great relationship together, and the 35-year-old has now admitted in an interview with the Athletic that the Newcastle United manager actually changed his life.
“Everyone has a couple of people you can say changed the trajectory of your life,” he said.
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“I’m lucky to have a few. Ed is one, and I also have to show my appreciation to all the staff there.
“Ed is just an unbelievable guy. I’ll forever be thankful. Not just for the opportunity he gave me as a player but for so many things; parenting, how to channel my feelings, my thoughts, how to express my emotions. He has an empathy for people, an understanding.
“He’s a massive fan of John Wooden and when I had my first child — he still does this with players — he gave us his book, Pyramid of Success. One of the building blocks is enthusiasm; if you wake up with enthusiasm, you’ve got half a chance. I read it to my kids and it’s still in my head: ‘Be that guy tomorrow’.
“I played for Ed at Bournemouth for three and a half years and I think he only left me out once or twice. But every Thursday, we’d be doing shape in training and I’d be thinking, ‘I hope I’m playing this week’. How did he make me feel like that after all that time? It’s a skill. He would always demand more. When you talk about ‘relentless’, that word he used about me? I got it from him.”
Matt Ritchie’s career since leaving Newcastle United
After eight years at Newcastle United, Ritchie left the club last summer.
He was signed for £12million in 2016 by Rafa Benitez, as he aimed to get the Magpies out of the Championship. Ritchie was pivotal in that, but his influence was more behind the scenes during Howe’s tenure.
The midfielder set standards on the training ground, and there was a reluctance to let him go at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
But Ritchie’s contract expired, and he became a free agent.
Since leaving Newcastle, Ritchie has returned to Portsmouth. That is where he wanted to go, and the Scotland international got his wish.
While at Newcastle he ended up being part of a team that was competing to be in the Champions League, the goal at Portsmouth is to avoid relegation to the Championship.
That currently looks likely, with Pompey up to 17th in the table after beating Leeds United 1-0 at Fratton Park on Sunday.
Ritchie played 75 minutes against the league leaders, as he made his 31st Championship appearance of the season. He has scored four goals, while he has also captained Portsmouth on multiple occasions.
That will have been an immense honour for a player who started his career at Pompey before Eddie Howe changed his life.