As it looks ever more likely that Eddie Howe will be appointed Celtics 21st manager in their history, the question is what will he bring to the table? To make sure Celtic are at least capable of mounting a challenge to our city rivals, after what can only be described as a disastrous season when there was so much at stake.
Eddie Howe? Well, he has been a manager for 13 years, which is quite remarkable in itself considering he is only 43 years old.
Now if we look at his 8 year stint at Bournemouth, which in the modern-day game and managerial merry go round nowadays could be considered a long tenure. So, does this say he is loyal? Or that he needs time to implement his style and methodology or both?
Should Eddie Howe replace Neil Lennon?
YES
NO
What we do know is that in his time as a manager he has gained 3 promotions. All of them during his time with Bournemouth. The most prestigious of them, and career defining was winning the English Championship in 2015, which gained them promotion to the riches of the English Premier League for the first time in their history.
Howe’s style and formation are mostly a throwback to the old school 4-4-2, something we are not to accustomed to seeing in today’s game. His overall management win percentage out of 545 games is around 41%, which you could argue is a pretty decent record with two clubs (Bournemouth and Burnley) that are not household names and known for spending millions in the transfer market.
Ironically you could arguably say the move to Celtic might suit him as Celtic fans know all too well the board like to hold aloft a balance sheet as proudly as Scott Brown parades the Scottish Premiership trophy.
Let’s hope the purse strings loosen for the new manager coming in, as I think most Celtic fans can agree that we need some old faces out and some fresh faces in. So, if it is Eddie Howe coming in to guide the Hoops back to the top of Scottish football, let’s hope he answers some of these questions for us, and let’s hope another exciting chapter in our history is about to begin. Time will tell.
*This article was written and published with the express permission of it’s owner, Kevin Miller.
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