Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has confirmed that he was not approached by the Football Association (FA) during their search for a new England manager.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham previously stated that approximately 10 candidates, including some English managers, were interviewed before appointing Thomas Tuchel. However, Howe, one of only three English managers in the Premier League, was not among them.
“I was not [contacted]. There was no contact from the FA,” Howe said.
When asked if this bothered him, Howe responded, “England have to do what is right for them and only they will know the processes they have gone through and the decisions they have made… For me, it’s about Newcastle and trying to win games.”
Howe expressed preference for an English coach to lead the national team but praised Tuchel’s appointment. “I’ve got a relationship with Thomas… What a brilliant guy. What a great person. What a great coach.”
Tuchel’s appointment marks the third non-English manager to coach the Three Lions. Howe had previously shadowed Tuchel during his tenure at Chelsea and described the experience as “fascinating.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, also linked to the England job, dismissed inquiries, saying, “Thomas Tuchel is the manager, forget about it… I’m the manager of Man City, forget about it. The rest is not important.”
On the debate surrounding England’s manager nationality, Guardiola commented, “We don’t decide where we’re born… You have to be open-minded.”
The FA declined to comment on Howe’s remarks.
