Newcastle United manager latest as big names linked with job
Xavi and Jose Mourinho
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Eddie Howe is under no illusions that he must have a strong end to the season after Newcastle United chief executive David Hopkinson's comments earlier in the week about the manager's future.
Hopkinson refused to give Howe any long-term assurances when he was quizzed on the 48-year-old's position, instead insisting that the only focus is on the last seven games of the Premier League campaign and a push for European qualification again.
Newcastle sit 12th in the table and have struggled for consistency this season. It has led to some supporters questioning whether Howe is the right man to take the club to the next level, and Hopkinson's comments - or lack of them - certainly didn't help.
As a result, speculation has grown over who could replace Howe in the St James' Park dugout should he leave the club, with no shortage of high-profile managers and head coaches linked with what is a prestigious position.
Among them is Xavi Hernandez. The former Spain midfielder has worked in the Saudi Pro League and then took his old club Barcelona to La Liga title, before leaving the Nou Camp in 2024. He hasn't worked since, but that hasn't stopped him being named fifth favourite with some bookmakers to replace Howe.
Former Newcastle winger Chris Waddle believes Xavi would get the pulses racing if he was appointed Newcastle boss, but says his managerial record and experience isn't strong enough to take on the job.
"Xavi would be an exciting appointment for Newcastle United if Eddie Howe did move on," Waddle said. "Obviously he was a great player.
"When it comes to his coaching obviously we've seen bits good and bad bits I suppose but listen, I think expectations would be high. The jury would be out. I don't think Newcastle fans would be doing cartwheels, I think they'd wait and see and they'd give him time.
"But you know Newcastle fans, I think they'd want to see him set his stall out for how he’s going to play what direction he wants to go in. Would he be allowed to bring his own players in?
"Xavi was a great player and when names are put out there, he’s had a couple of jobs in management, but I don’t think Newcastle are going to be putting him at the top of their list if they want to replace Eddie Howe.
"If in the next few weeks Eddie Howe is not getting the results and he’s out and a manager like Xavi comes in, he’d have to do a lot to win the fans over.
"It’s all right saying he was a great player but you'd have to judge him on his ability as a manager, and he’s never worked in the Premier League. It’s completely different to where he’s been before. He could be a massive success at a club like Newcastle but I just don’t see it happening."
Another name linked with the role is Jose Mourinho. The veteran boss has spoken warmly on many occasions about Newcastle, with the Sir Bobby Robson link, and fresh speculation in Portugal last week claimed he could be on his way back to the Premier League in the summer.
Sources close to PIF have rubbished the claims that Newcastle may be interested in the ex-Chelsea manager, and Waddle says the Portuguese's style of play wouldn't be a good fit on Tyneside.
"Listen, I respect Jose," Waddle told FruityKing. "You can’t not respect Mourinho for what he's done in the game and the trophies he's won. But let's be perfectly honest, he'll probably admit it himself that his teams are not the most entertaining. He looks at results and really that's what football's all about but Newcastle are a club that’s about more than just that.
"Mourinho went to Tottenham and the Tottenham fans didn't really like his football because they expect entertaining, expansive football. They want to see entertainment. If you’re looking at Jose Mourinho, you’re looking at his results, not how he gets them.
"I think Newcastle fans would find it hard to take Mourinho and his football if it was 1-0 every week.
"The managers who are remembered at Newcastle United are Joe Harvey, Arthur Cox, Bobby Robson, Kevin Keegan and now Eddie Howe because they always played on the front foot.
"They don't mention the other managers and they may have done very good jobs, don't get me wrong, but they don't mention a lot of the other managers. The managers you ask Newcastle fans about are Keegan, Eddie Howe, Bobby Robson, Arthur Cox because these are the managers fans would say are their favourite managers.
"So you've got to look at it and ask why? Because they played on the front foot and they entertained."