The conversation around the future of the Newcastle United dugout is starting to heat up, even if the club itself has remained largely quiet on the matter. While several high-profile Premier League teams have already shuffled their management this season, the situation at St. James’ Park has remained relatively stable under Eddie Howe.
However, football is a business built on results and ambition, and former striker Stan Collymore has recently raised eyebrows by suggesting that a major change could be on the horizon. Specifically, he has pointed toward the legendary Jose Mourinho as a figure who might be eyeing a return to England to lead the North East giants.
To understand why this talk is surfacing now, we have to look at the current landscape of the English top flight. Clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United have already made moves to refresh their leadership, and there are whispers that the managers at Liverpool and Tottenham could be next if their fortunes do not improve.
Newcastle has avoided this kind of media speculation for the most part, but Collymore believes the club’s owners, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, might be tempted to make a high-impact appointment if they feel the current project has reached a plateau.
Eddie Howe has done an incredible job since he arrived in late 2021. He took a team struggling near the bottom of the table and transformed them into a top-four side, securing Champions League football twice. Perhaps even more importantly for the fans, he delivered a trophy last season by winning the Carabao Cup, ending a decades-long drought.
Despite these achievements, Collymore suggests that the “Mourinho factor” is becoming harder to ignore. Currently managing Benfica in Portugal, Mourinho is a man who has won almost everything there is to win in the sport. From league titles in four different countries to multiple Champions League trophies, his resume is unmatched by almost anyone in the game.
The theory put forward by Collymore is that Mourinho is essentially putting himself back in the shop window. He noted that recent press conferences in Portugal suggest the veteran manager is open to a new challenge.
There is also a deeper, more strategic layer to this potential move involving the influential super-agent Jorge Mendes. Mendes has strong ties to both Mourinho and the Saudi Arabian football market.
The idea is that appointing Mourinho would not only bring a massive name to Newcastle but also create a pathway for the manager to eventually transition into the Saudi Pro League later in his career. It is a scenario where the owners, the agent, and the manager could all find a way to achieve their long-term goals.
On the pitch, the situation is a bit more nuanced. Newcastle currently sits in ninth place in the Premier League. While they are not challenging for the title, they are only five points away from a Champions League spot, which is a very manageable gap.
Their performance in Europe has also been respectable, picking up thirteen points from seven matches. However, the concern is that some of the big-money signings haven’t quite reached the heights expected of them, and some key players who performed brilliantly over the last two years seem to have leveled off.
Collymore admits that he was once a skeptic of Howe, often criticizing his defensive tactics during his time at Bournemouth. He has since become a reluctant fan, acknowledging that Howe has learned from his past mistakes and turned Newcastle into a very competitive side.
Yet, he warns that the margins in elite football are incredibly fine. If Newcastle finishes the season outside of the European places, the owners might feel that a change is necessary to keep the club moving toward the very top of the world stage.
For now, the official word from inside the club is one of total support. Sources close to the leadership have made it clear that they believe Howe is still the best man for the job. They value the culture he has built and the success he has already delivered.
But in a world where a manager of Jose Mourinho’s stature is reportedly interested, the pressure to maintain perfection is constant. If Howe can secure another trophy or another top-four finish, his position will likely be safe.
If the season ends on a flat note, however, the rumors of a Portuguese “Special One” arriving on Tyneside will only grow louder. It is a fascinating period for the club, as they balance loyalty to a successful coach with the lure of a global football icon.
