Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United are heading into unchartered waters after a two decade absence from the Champions League
Leicester City’s Premier League title win in 2016 remains one of the best stories of modern football. From narrowly surviving relegation to lifting the title the following year against the 5000/1 odds and securing Champions League football for the first time in the club’s history.
Veteran boss Claudio Ranieri had won trophies in Italy, Spain and France, but the Premier League win with the Foxes is undoubtedly his best achievement. Leicester would prove their title win was no fluke, topping their Champions League group of Porto, Copenhagen and Club Brugge and then beating Sevilla over two legs in the last 16.
They were eventually knocked out of the competition by Atletico Madrid in the Quarter-Finals but were the English side that went the furthest in the tournament that season. Despite their endeavours in Europe, the Foxes finished in 12th place, were knocked out of the FA Cup by Millwall in the Fifth Round and beaten in the League Cup third round by Chelsea.
Ranieri’s success had proven to be his own downfall and he was sacked in February with with Craig Shakespeare taking over the reins. While Newcastle United may not have won the league last year under Eddie Howe, there are similar parallels between their remarkable rise under their head coach.
Howe transformed a Magpies side rotting at the foot of the table and heading to the Championship. The richest club in world football playing in the second tier of English football would have been a rod on Newcastle’s back, but not if Howe had anything to do about it.
The 45-year-old loosened the shackles and took Newcastle to new heights of the top four. Howe will embark on his first Champions League campaign as a manger and so will many of his players.
The likes of Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman and Sandro Tonali will provide invaluable experience to a young group who have grand plans of taking on the world. The arrival of the Italian midfielder has added some much needed strength in depth ahead of competing on four fronts, but unlike Leicester, Newcastle will be hoping to be more competitive on domestic fronts.
Howe has stressed the need for more additions and the arrival of Harvey Barnes saw Allan Saint-Maximin depart for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli. The Newcastle boss admitted he would have liked to keep the Frenchman at the club, but Financial Fair Play will limit what the Magpies can do in the transfer market.
Although the Toon have grand ambitions, they can’t afford to fall into the trap of sacking Howe, if domestic form takes a hit. Leicester know that all too well after it took a number of years for the Foxes to return to Europe after parting company with Ranieri.
Brendan Rodgers took Leicester back into Europe, but a lack of investment in the squad saw them relegated last season. Newcastle’s owners have shown their wisdom in the transfer market and the day-to-day running of the club, but Howe is building something special.
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