Eddie Howe has left Newcastle United lasting just-shy of five years in the St James’ Park hotseat.

Eddie Howe’s legacy at Newcastle United is not a complicated one. He was the one who delivered when so many others failed.

Every single Newcastle United fan dreamed of one day watching their team climb the steps at Wembley and lift a trophy.

On Sunday 16 March 2025, that dream became a reality and Howe was the man who made it happen.

And yet, it was noticeable that in the middle of the throng of post-match celebrations, that the head coach was notably withdrawn, allowing his players to soak in their achievements.

Eventually, he was thrust to the front by Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, two players who will forever be intertwined with his time at the club, and the raw emotion that exploded out of him as he waved the Carabao Cup trophy in front of those fans he had now enraptured was a sight to behold.

Of course, March 2025 was the peak of his almost five-year stint as manager and there has been a dramatic fall off in the year-and-a-half since that day, but that should not cloud Howe’s legacy at the club and the sheer joy he has brought to the north east.

I had the pleasure of working closely with Howe during much of his time in the dugout, and there is no doubt that he is a man of integrity and someone who would work morning, noon and night to try and improve the club in every single way.

He is a good person and a great head coach - probably the best this country has to offer right now.

Whatever happens next at Newcastle United, it’s unlikely that any manager, head coach or whatever it is dressed up as, will be able to deliver the highs that Howe did for such a sustained period.

That 202/23 team he assembled was the best I have ever seen in black-and-white. His 2024/25 team delivered the best moment any of us had seen in seven decades.

Howe’s time at St James’ Park can be perfectly summarised by one of his last interviews, in which he said: "Every day that I'm Newcastle manager is a great day for me.

"I absolutely love the football club and that will never change."

Thank you, Eddie.