Three managerial candidates for Newcastle United to consider if they sack Steve Bruce

It has been a historic day for Newcastle United and their fans as the £300m takeover of the club have officially been completed, with a Saudi Arabian-led consortium ending Mike Ashley’s infamous 14-year reign at the helm of St. James’ Park.

newcastle fans

An investment group led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), who had to offer assurances to the Premier League that its chairman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have completed the 100 per cent acquisition of the Tyneside-based club. The Public Investment Fund will be the majority partner alongside Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley, as Newcastle embark on a new era.

The new owners of Newcastle United do not want to make any decisions hastily, but it is believed one of their priorities lie in deciding who manages the club moving forward with the Magpies in a poor run of form.

A less than inspiring start has left many Geordies scratching their head and asking Steve Bruce is the right man for the job. The Magpies are winless after seven games, reeling in the relegation zone with three defeats and four draws. After Xisco Munoz’s sacking by Watford, Bruce heads the list of managers most likely to next get the bullet.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the three choices Newcastle can contemplate before hiring Bruce’s replacement.

3 possible replacements for Steve Bruce

1. Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte is arguably the most high-profile manager that Newcastle United could appoint at the moment in time.

Antonio Conte

The Italian, 52, is currently out of job having walked out of Inter Milan, just a few days after winning the Scudetto following a row with the club’s Chinese owners. He has excellent experience in management, with his former managerial stint in the Premier League coming at Chelsea, with whom the Lecce-born tactician lifted the league title in the 2016/17 season.

Antonio Conte’s style of play is possession-based and defensively strong, but emphasises creating goal-scoring chances as well, something Newcastle have been lacking in abundance this term. After leaving Inter earlier this year, he could be tempted to take the Magpies job by the huge transfer kitty to spend.

2. Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard has been out of the game since his exit from Chelsea in January.

Derby County manager \ head coach Frank Lampard

The Englishman, 43, isn’t the most experienced of managers having been in the management for just three years. At Derby County and Chelsea, he showed a great eye for young talents and provided them with opportunities to shine.

Lampard’s style is the polar opposite to that of Steve Bruce, as the 43-year-old tactician encourages his team to play an attacking, free-flowing brand of football. For a club now with mega-rich owners and embarking on a new era, the Chelsea legend could be a smart candidate to replace Bruce.

3. Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe, who snubbed the Celtic job in May, has been out of management since 2020 after resigning from his post at Bournemouth following relegation from the top-flight.

Eddie Howe

The 43-year-old is young, innovative and dynamic with solid Premier League experience and fresh ideas to play. The work he did at Bournemouth should be right up there in terms of managing the squad plus entertaining the Vitality Stadium faithful by playing an attacking, aggressive style of football with a shoestring budget.

Newcastle United need a manager who can not only keep the team solid at the back, but also let them express themselves in possession and attack in numbers with a mindset of scoring a lot of goals to stay in the Premier League this term. In that regard, Eddie Howe could be an ideal for the Magpies.

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