Top six favourites to become new Newcastle manager with ‘sacking’ expected

The top six favourites to become new Newcastle United manager has already been revealed with an imminent sacking expected amid the takeover.

Speculation has gone into overdrive with an announcement expected to be made on the Premier League club, with reports claiming ‘the takeover is done, the money is there and the Premier League have signed it off. All that remains is to make it official. Could be any time now.’

Steve Bruce is set to be sacked once the takeover of the club is all done with – as part of a wholesale amount of much needed changes to avoid the drop.

The 60-year-old has been in charge since July 2019, and while he has admittedly kept the club relatively stable, finishing 13th and 12th in his two full seasons at the club, many fans are still unhappy with the style of play and atmosphere around the club.

An annual survey from Newcastle United Supporter’s Trust indicated that almost 95% of fans wanted Bruce to be removed as the manager of the club.

The survey also showed that 93.8% of fans supported the Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United who currently sit 19th in the Premier League and are winless from their opening seven games this season.

So, who are the top six favourites to become new Newcastle manager with a ‘sacking’ expected? Find out for yourself below…

6) Gennaro Gattuso

In October 2021, Newcastle United were said to be lining up a new boss with a Steve Bruce exit ‘around the corner’.

The Magpies are considering a move for former player turned manager Gennaro Gattuso if they get rid of their current boss, according to reports in Italy.

Italian website Calciomercato claims that Bruce’s sacking is ‘around the corner’ at the North East outfit and that ‘Gattuso is on the bench’ after the club were said to have been interested in him during the summer.

He is a World Cup winner as a player, and has managed two of the biggest clubs in Italy in the form of Serie A giants AC Milan and Napoli.

He left his role in Naples at the end of the 2021/22 season after failing to qualify for the Champions League – but was heavily linked with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur a few months back, and seemingly came close to getting the role.

Calciomercato add that he is ‘among the names screened by Newcastle’ with Bruce likely to be on his way out of the club soon.

Sky Bet odds: 14/1

5) Antonio Conte

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is currently out of work, after surprisingly walking out on Inter Milan following last season’s Serie A triumph.

The 52 year old Italian has been doing punditry work on Italian telly but could be tempted back in by a huge warchest to spend.

His managerial career started in 2006, leading Bari to a Serie B title, and Siena to promotion from the same division two years later. He took over at Juventus in 2011 and won three consecutive Serie A titles before taking charge of the Italian national team in 2014 until UEFA Euro 2016.

He then became Chelsea manager and led them to the Premier League title in his first season in charge, later winning the FA Cup in his second season with the team. He was dismissed as Chelsea manager in 2018 and joined Inter Milan a year later, winning the Serie A title in his second and final season.

Sky Bet odds: 12/1

4) Graeme Jones

Graeme Jones is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a forward, currently an assistant coach to Steve Bruce at Newcastle.

His playing career, which spanned between 1991 and 2006, included spells at North Shields, Bridlington Town, Doncaster Rovers, Wigan Athletic, St Johnstone, Southend United, Boston United, Bury, Clyde and Hamilton Academical.

He went into coaching in 2007, in which he became the assistant manager of Swansea City. Jones is notable as being the assistant to Roberto Martínez between 2007 and 2018, where he enjoyed spells at Swansea, Wigan Athletic, Everton and the Belgian national team. After leaving Belgium in 2018, he worked as assistant manager of Darren Moore at West Bromwich Albion, a role he held until March 2019. Jones was appointed at his first managerial position at newly promoted Championship club Luton Town in May 2019. He left the position in April 2020, going on to serve in assistant coaching roles at Bournemouth and Newcastle United.

He was also part of the coaching staff for the England national team, who lost in the Euro 2020 Final against Italy.

Sky Bet odds: 11/1

3) Roberto Martinez

The Spanish football coach is a former professional player turned manager of the Belgium national team.

Martínez played as a defensive midfielder and began his career at Real Zaragoza, and won the Copa del Rey with them. He spent a year at lower league side CF Balaguer, before joining for Wigan Athletic.

He was a regular first team player for six years, the longest period of time he spent at one club. During his time there, he won the Football League Third Division and the Football League Trophy. He moved to Scottish side Motherwell, then to Walsall, before signing for Swansea City in 2003. He became club captain and helped the team to win promotion to League One in 2005. He moved to Chester City in 2006, and was again chosen to be captain.

In 2007, he retired from playing to become manager of Swansea City, leading them to promotion from League One as champions. He then returned to Wigan Athletic in 2009, helping the club avoid relegation for three consecutive seasons. In his fourth season Wigan were relegated, but won the FA Cup in 2013 for the first time in the club’s history. At the end of that season he became the boss of Everton. In May 2016, he was sacked as their manager, and became Belgium’s head coach on the 3rd of August 2016. He guided them to third place in 2018 FIFA World Cup, their best-ever position in the competition as well as holding first place for Belgium in the FIFA World ranking since 2018. They reached the quarter finals of Euro 2020, losing 2-1 to Italy.

Sky Bet odds: 10/1

2) Chris Wilder

Ex-Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is keen on the Newcastle United managerial position if the job becomes vacant, according to Chronicle Live.

The former Blades boss has experience in the Premier League, managing Sheffield United in the top flight in an impressive 2019/20 season before suffering a dismal 2020/21 season.

Even though last season ended with the club finishing rock-bottom, the campaign prior had seen Wilder guide them to a top-half position, and this boosted his reputation at the time.

Sky Bet odds: 7/1

1) Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe has been linked with many clubs for the manager’s position for however long he stays unemployed.

The 42-year-old guided the Cherries to more than 450 games across two spells spanning more than a decade but stepped down this summer following the club’s relegation to the Championship.

Their five-year stay in the top flight ended despite a 3-1 win at Everton on the final day of the season.

Howe also made more than 300 appearances as a player in the famous red and black stripes.

Howe was initially appointed AFC Bournemouth caretaker manager in December 2008, with the club sitting on -17 points at the bottom of the Football League.

Against all the odds he secured their safety and followed it with promotion from League Two the following season.

After a brief spell in charge of Burnley, a masterstroke from owner Maxim Demin bought Howe back to Dorset, and he then proceeded to achieve two further promotions in three seasons, leading the Cherries to the Premier League, where they remained for five years.

He, just like Chris Wilder, are reportedly open to becoming the new manager of Newcastle United. He’s favourite and seems to be holding out for a job in the top tier.

Sky Bet odds: 5/2

Other names that could enter the top six favourites include Rafa Benitez, Frank Lampard, Jose Mourinho, Steven Gerrard and Zinedine Zidane.

FAN REACTION:

@costanza55: I can think of nothing funnier than the takeover going through, expectations through the roof, then Mark Hughes arrives to mumble through a press conference.

@tomholohan: Stevie Gerrard? Think he’ll be in the mix

@DarrenCowan6: Diego Simeone for me

@Garymiller69Gm: I would prefer Martinez, alongside Jones.

@Jimmy_R7: Surprised Gerrard isn’t high up on that list

@ToonMouthTyne: Conte.

@DonaldoC09: I always said 18 month back Eddie Howe would be a great start to build on then see where the owners want to go ? Personally I would love Mancini

@HarveySimpson9: Jose for me, heir to sir Bobby

@bondy_nz: I’ve always thought Jose would be a great fit for us. Understands how big the club is after working with Sir Bobby and has a point to prove in the premier league. Can’t see it happening but he’d be my pick.

@MagPieMagic78: I’d love to see Eddie with a ball of money

@PeterMurray23: Honestly out of them Howe. The rest would probably need a ready made squad to walk in to. Howe and Jones could potentially be a good partnership and anything is better than Bruce. Right now we need someone to steer the club through the next 12-18 months.

@colinss30: As much as Jose would be a great choice for us, he just started at Roma and by the looks of things he’s doing a great job there!! Yeah Zidane might great choice.

@TheMokPope: I think Jose and Rafa are our seeing as they’ve just joined new clubs. Conte would be first for me, then Howe

@JamesWallbridge: Eddie Howe, would bring exciting football and an identity – potential to rebuild us similar to Poch with Spurs/Rodgers with leicester/liverpool

@bennison_joe: Antoino conte or zidane

@NIToonFan33: Not Jose. We are trying to get our club back to being positive. Anywhere he has gone it has worked for the first season and then turns toxic

@DavieUDesertMag: Conte for me. But romantically with Sir Bobby connection I like the idea of Jose. He loves the Toon. But hasn’t done it the last few jobs.

@BlackWhitekt9: It’s actually embarrassing that Eddie Howe is on that list

@ToonHarp: I like the idea of Jose; the Bobby connection, his affinity for the club but I just don’t think he is right for this project. I think Potter would be an inspired choice.

@PeterMurray23: We need someone who can manage who we have already until January window and even then we can’t spend huge. Not sure Conte can do that or Morinho for that matter as they tend to spend big. Could be the same for Zidane but you never know. Howe could potentially be a good interim

@mikeyjpatt: Rafa or Mourinho

@ThomasN22530336: Please not Mourinho, he’s a mercenary who’s made a fortune out of getting the sack.

Now you’ve seen the top six favourites to become new Newcastle manager with a ‘sacking’ expected, who would you pick? Let us know via our socials!