Richard Keys is not enthused about the prospect of Eddie Howe leaving Newcastle United to become England manager.
The England job is suddenly available, with Tuesday morning bringing confirmation that Gareth Southgate will be stepping down following the Euro 2024 final defeat.
After getting the Three Lions to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi, Southgate’s time as England manager is over.
The FA are now looking for a replacement, and Eddie Howe is a contender to be the next England manager.
It has been reported that Howe is relaxed about his future, while the 46-year-old has a £5million release clause in his Newcastle United contract.
Given what he has achieved on Tyneside, it is no surprise that he is a leading contender to replace Southgate. He deserves the opportunity to manage his country – it is just a shame it could be at the expense of Newcastle United!
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Richard Keys wants Jurgen Klopp as England manager, not Eddie Howe
But while Newcastle fans are worrying about the prospect of losing Howe to England, Richard Keys has hit back at suggestions that the Toon boss should get the job.
He has written about the England manager situation in his blog, and has suggested that the FA should go for Jurgen Klopp.
Keys also admits that Howe will be in the conversation, but thinks he would be a safe appointment that is too similar to Southgate.
“Eddie Howe would get a mention as well,” he wrote.
“He’s a very typical FA man, right out of the Safegate mold, but we need something else now.”
Keys continues to show disrespect to Newcastle United manager
Keys also suggested that Frank Lampard is an ‘interesting outsider’, seemingly ignoring his record in management.
I am not sure what Keys’ problem with Howe is, but the former Sky Sports presenter rarely has a good word to say about him. There were plenty of occasions last season that Keys was calling on Newcastle to replace Howe, acting as chief cheerleader for Jose Mourinho.
And there is also an underappreciation of what Southgate did as England manager. Branding him as ‘Safegate’ is hardly the most original insult, and appears to ignore how well he did as Three Lions boss.
Sure, he still was not the one who brought football home, but he got closer than most. Southgate made England fans believe again, and managed to get the nation behind a group of players in a way that we have rarely seen before.
The ending was sad, and England were very lucky to get to the final of Euro 2024. But before Southgate, England struggled to even reach the final four.
But will Howe be the one trusted to try and take England that one golden step further? Keys seemingly hopes not, and I share his sentiment – but for completely different reasons.
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