Eddie Howe, manager of Newcastle United, is gearing up to face off against a manager he regards as one of the finest in football history, Jose Mourinho.
The 62-year-old Portuguese will bring his Benfica team to St James’ Park on Tuesday for a Champions League clash, where the legacy of his mentor Sir Bobby Robson still resonates strongly.
Mourinho’s impressive collection of 26 trophies includes three Premier League titles, four League Cups, an FA Cup, and a Europa League during his tenures at Chelsea and Manchester United. Howe holds no doubts about Mourinho’s stature within English football.
When asked if Mourinho should be regarded among the all-time greats, the 47-year-old Howe stated, “Absolutely. Just look at his achievements. I’m not merely saying this because we play against each other tomorrow; I genuinely believe that. His initial impact was remarkable. He brought an aura to his teams, making them tough to beat.”
Howe continued, “During my early days as a head coach, his teams greatly influenced my coaching philosophy and how I envisioned my own style of play.”
While Mourinho has a connection to Newcastle through his relationship with Robson, his record at St James’ Park has been mixed, with 12 visits resulting in three wins, five losses, and four draws across all competitions while managing Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham.
Howe fondly remembers his first matchup against Mourinho when his newly-promoted Bournemouth side secured a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in December 2015, a match that remains his only success against the legendary coach.
“Every victory in the Premier League is cherished, especially during the early stages of my career when it was challenging to secure wins,” Howe reflected. “Chelsea were one of the top teams at that time, and those victories were crucial in instilling belief in our ability to compete in the league. We were a newly-promoted team that needed every boost of confidence we could find.”
However, Howe noted that this current matchup is distinctly different, emphasizing the importance of qualifying for the Champions League: “After the disappointment of the loss to Barcelona, we are eager for this game.”
Newcastle rebounded from their opening defeat against Barcelona with a resounding 4-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise, while Benfica is still searching for their first points after losses to Qarabag and Chelsea.
The Magpies are now concerned about the fitness of key midfielder Sandro Tonali, who missed training on Monday due to illness and is deemed “touch and go” by Howe, with Lewis Miley and Jacob Ramsey on standby.