A big managerial question mark still hangs over St James Park, and as the season draws to a close, the question on every Newcastle United supporter’s lips is; who will the next Newcastle United manager be?
In the past, managerial greats such as Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan have been at the helm of club, managers of real pedigree and experience, but today in the dugout sits John Carver, a relative novice to Premier League management. There is great speculation that owner Mike Ashley will refrain from awarding the permanent job to the local man Carver, but not all Newcastle United fans are so sure. Could the former assistant still be barking instructions at the team come the beginning of next season, or will one of the many touted candidates have replaced him in the role?
John Carver
Not viewed as a strong candidate by most, due to Newcastle’s results following his promotion after Alan Pardew’s departure, picking up a measly two wins and three draws during his sixteen-game tenure. With five games remaining, Carver must achieve some impressive results to stake a claim to the permanent role, which he has expressed his interest in on numerous occasions due to his long-held passion for the club.
Having worked under the late, great Sir Bobby Robson, Carver will likely have some tactical nous up his sleeve, but has failed to demonstrate it thus far. The Geordie’s managerial exploits at MLS outfit Toronto FC were ill-fated and unsuccessful too, lasting just over a year in the job with a miserable 30% win ratio. The Newcastle post is Carver’s first managerial role since leaving the Canadian side in 2009.
Often billed as hot-headed and outspoken, Carver has once or twice let his emotions get the better of him, including being sent to the stands for a scuffle with the coaching staff of Wigan Athletic in 2013 and a distasteful encounter with Newcastle’s travelling supporters during The Magpies’ 4-0 defeat to Southampton, not the best traits for a manager.
Verdict: Will remain at the club, either as assistant to the new man in charge, or as part of the backroom staff.
Steve McClaren
Odds-on favourite with many bookmakers as the man to take over the reigns, due to his Premier League experience with Middlesbrough and links to the North East. Another former assistant to a great, McClaren was Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man at Manchester United between 1999-2001, before delving into management himself. He then earned the job at Middlesbrough, where he remained for five years, reaching a UEFA Cup Final with the Teesside club, and guiding them to a League Cup victory over Bolton at The Millennium Stadium in 2004. An impressive CV is tarnished by his infamous stint as England manager, with whom we failed to qualify for Euro 2008, signalling the end of his international management career to date.
However, the current Derby County boss enjoyed a two-year-spell in The Netherlands with FC Twente, leading The Grolsch Veste side to second place in the Eredivisie in his first season in charge, before becoming champions for the first time in the club’s history in 2010. He won the Rinus Michels Manager of the Year award in the process. Winning the Eredivisie was quite a feat, considering the league is usually dominated by comparative giants PSV and Ajax.
Renowned for his stirring and eccentric management style of opting to remain in the stands as an onlooker for the majority of the match, this could be a feature at Newcastle United if McClaren were to become the next manager.
His current Championship side Derby County are likely to have to battle it out in the play-offs for promotion to the Premier League, and if they do not succeed, McClaren will be linked with the Newcastle United position even more strongly.
Verdict: Strong candidate with a record of making the underdog a contender. Depends on the situation at Derby.
Frank De Boer
A dream for many United fans would be the appointment of former Dutch sweeper, Frank De Boer, currently securing Champions League football for Ajax after missing out on his fifth successive Eredivisie title to rivals PSV. A reserved figure on the touchline, De Boer does not possess the same charisma as the likes of Jürgen Klopp, José Mourinho and other continental managers, but the Dutchman is an astute tactician and excellent at coaching and developing youth players, proven by his conveyor-belt of young talent at the Amsterdam Arena.
However, the likelihood of a well-travelled and successful manager challenging for league titles to leave his current position for the job at St. James Park is highly unlikely. Even if the job weren’t a poisoned chalice like it is under the current Sports Direct regime, it would still be a miracle to see De Boer take on the role on Tyneside.
Verdict: De Boer doesn’t look a likely or realistic candidate despite previous interest to manage in the Premier League.
Jocelyn Gourvennec
An unknown entity to most, if not all Newcastle United supporters, the current EA Guingamp head-coach has very recently been linked as a potential successor to John Carver in the summer. Allegedly pictured with Lee Charnley, Managing Director at St. James Park, Gourvennec has had some under-the-radar success in his native country of France. Named Ligue 2 Manager of the Year following the 2012-13 season where his Guingamp side were promoted and regained their top flight status, Gourvennec also steered Guingamp clear of relegation and won the Coupe de France: a prestigious honour.
Whilst not very much is known about Gourvennec, the tenuous claim of an alleged meeting with MD Charnley could simply have been regarding the on-loan Newcastle player Sylvain Marveaux.
Verdict: A firm outsider for the position, but with Newcastle’s strong “Les Bleus” contingent, a French head-coach wouldn’t necessarily be a bad move.
