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Alan Shearer believes Eddie Howe now ranks “above” Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle United.
Both figures - as well as Shearer himself - hold legendary status at St James’ Park. All three were instrumental in Newcastle’s highs during the 1990s and early 2000s when Champions League adventures and Premier League title charges were commonplace.
Despite that, neither Toon icon managed to secure silverware, with a trophy-starved fan base beginning to believe the club was cursed. That was until Howe came along and banished the demons at Wembley on Sunday.
Newcastle put league leaders Liverpool to the sword in convincing fashion, with even the most fervent Red admitting that the 2-1 scoreline was flattering. A trophy parade next Saturday will give thousands of supporters the chance to welcome their Wembley heroes.
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Howe is set to be given freedom of the city - an honour already bestowed upon Shearer and Robson. There are now calls for him to be cast in bronze outside of St James’ Park alongside the Newcastle legends.
Speaking to The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer - who was in the crowd as Newcastle clinched the Carabao Cup - backed calls for a Howe statue. The 54-year-old also ranked Howe above Robson and Keegan for his achievements at the Magpies.
“Eddie will be able to pick wherever he wants his statue,” Shearer said. “I’m pretty sure he’ll get one. Think of the brilliant Sir Bobby Robson, what Kevin Keegan did for Newcastle and how highly regarded these guys are in and around not only just Newcastle but, in Sir Bobby’s case, around the world.
“But Eddie has gone one further than they were able to do. He’s actually delivered that trophy. He’s put himself above those brilliant managers.”
Eddie Howe distanced himself from ‘legend’ and ‘statue’ talk at Newcastle United
In his usual modest tone, Howe downplayed the suggestions after beating Liverpool on Sunday. He told reporters: “No, I don’t put ourselves in that bracket. I think we'll let other people decide that when we're probably long gone from the football club but I think our job is to give our best every day and that will never change.
“That won’t change now, in this moment and we have to represent the club in the right way, which I think these players have done really, really well. They're very professional. I encourage them not to be professional tonight and just not think about tomorrow too much and just be together and enjoy the moment and then we'll start to think of the future after.”