Newcastle United ended their trophy drought after a magnificent 2-1 win against Liverpool for Eddie Howe’s side at Wembley in front of over 33,000 ecstatic supporters.
Newcastle United’s name has been etched into the Carabao Cup to end many years of pain in cup competitions. The Magpies were worthy winners and erased memories of 1974, 1976, 1998, 1999, and of course, 2023 with victory this time round.
Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored either side of half-time before a late Federico Chiesa goal had nerves jangling. However, they held on to make history despite being without Anthony Gordon, Sven Botman, and Lewis Hall.
As the final whistle sounded at Wembley, a momentous success was achieved for the Magpies. The history books were altered in many different ways during one single afternoon — and not just for Newcastle.
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Newcastle United and Eddie Howe break Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth record
The 70-year wait for a domestic trophy ended right there. The realisation that Newcastle were on the verge of history had long since set in, with the Magpies in full control before the hour mark against the favourites.
As the final whistle sounded, grown men cried, strangers clung to one another, and the players and coaching team alike were seen in a state of euphoria and relief.
Howe made history of his own as the first English manager to win either the FA Cup or League Cup since Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008. The 47-year-old is also the first English manager to win this trophy since Steve McClaren with Middlesbrough in 2004.
Redknapp’s Portsmouth had the last laugh when they defeated Cardiff City 1-0 thanks to a strike from Nwankwo Kanu in May 2008 at Wembley. Of course, things have not gone quite to plan for the ex-Premier League club since then, having fallen into League Two, though they have now fought their way back to the Championship just last season.
However, for Redknapp and Pompey fans, it was a special day beating then-Championship side Cardiff, although their victorious manager would depart for Tottenham Hotspur just five months later.
Pompey and talisman Colby Bishop are aiming to survive relegation in their first season back at second tier level in 13 years. They remain well-placed despite recent defeats in consecutive games in a difficult weekend in the Championship.
John Mousinho and co. will hope to return the club to the glory days one day via the Premier League, with Newcastle’s success a reminder of their own not-so-distant history and also of what a fortress Fratton Park can be.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Why English managers are generally struggling and what is holding them back
No English manager has won the Premier League title, although the Scottish Sir Alex Ferguson did so on 13 occasions. Howard Wilkinson was the last Englishman to win a league title when he and Leeds United won the final season of the old first division.
Wilkinson’s Leeds held off Ferguson’s Manchester United on the penultimate weekend of the 1991/92 season when they ultimately topped the table by four points. However, prior to Howe yesterday, there have been very few success stories in over three decades since.
Even with a talented English group, Gareth Southgate has not delivered success on the international stage, leaving the English FA to opt for a German in Thomas Tuchel instead. Currently, in the Premier League, there are just two English managers out of 20.
Manager Club Days in charge
Eddie Howe Newcastle United 1225
Graham Potter West Ham United 67
English managers in the Premier League
Neither of these managers are in any of the traditional ‘big six’ clubs, while the likes of Sean Dyche and Gary O’Neil were sacked with their sides in a relegation battle. Many former England players are increasingly deciding against coaching, given the luxury and finances involved in punditry instead.
Young English coaches given big jobs have also tended to be former players with distinguished careers behind them. Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Gary Neville are among those to have been fast-tracked into high-pressure positions, with mixed results.
Lampard is making a success of himself at Coventry City right now, and could be heading back to the big time if things go to plan in the play-offs. But, he’s had to fight his way back after negative spells at Chelsea and Everton in recent years.
Howe’s success should be an encouragement and incentive for others to follow in his footsteps, but the success stories are few and far between in recent memory. Portsmouth and Redknapp will hope that they inspired a generation which are soon to come through.