Top five managers who could replace Steve Bruce at Newcastle United

The arrival of a new tactician is a heavy possibility at the club.

A consortium which includes the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, recently completed the takeover of Newcastle United in a landmark event. State-owned PIF has assets in the region of £320bn, which makes the Premier League outfit the richest club in the world. The £300m buyout of the Magpies will ensure the availability of funds to acquire the best players and coaching staff. 

However, simply buying the best players may not ensure success. One needs an able manager to build a side that would challenge for trophies on a regular basis. Point in case is Manchester City, which needed the expertise of Roberto Mancini to build a cohesive unit out of world class individuals. Steve Bruce is expected to be relieved of his duties as the Newcastle United manager and a replacement is likely to arrive soon.

There is no shortage of options as the potential new manager of the club. The new owners will carefully weigh their options and appoint a manager who will have the best credentials. Here are five of most suitable candidates who could become the next manager at Newcastle United.

5. Erik ten Hag

The Dutchman often gets linked with a move to elite European clubs like Barcelona and PSG due to his exceptional work with AFC Ajax. The tactician has already won two Eredivisie and Dutch Cup titles each in the last four years as manager. He earned a lot of recognition after Ajax embarked on a fairytale run during the 2018/19 edition of the UEFA Champions League. Erik ten Hag’s men defeated the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus on the road to the semi-finals.

The 51-year-old could be instrumental in building a winning side which has an attractive playing style. Newcastle United would not want to end up with a squad full of great individual players without a system. Erik ten Hag is meticulous and will be a great addition to the Premier League. 

4. Roberto Martinez

The Spaniard is one of the candidates who will be considered for many reasons. The tactician has previously managed Everton and Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. Therefore, the experience of the league will give Martinez an upper hand on the rest of the potential managers for the job. The Spaniard is currently managing Belgium national football team. He has managed to keep Belgium amongst the best teams in the world and worked with top players during that time.

The new owners at Newcastle United will take Martinez’s experience of handling world class players into account. Reports from several European outlets suggested that Martinez could sign for a club in the future. This is after failing to win a major trophy with Belgium’s golden generation of players and the Magpies could be the perfect new challenge.

3. Zinedine Zidane

The Frenchman last managed Real Madrid for a second stint with the club. He resigned from his position citing lack of faith from the management. Zidane is a serial winner with the La Liga giants, guiding them to three successive UEFA Champions League wins. Furthermore, he had a winning ratio of 62.5% with the club.

During his time as manager of Real Madrid, Zidane worked with several world class players. He managed a star-studded squad to perfection and this experience would be vital at Newcastle United. The outfit will look to buy the best available players and a figure like Zidane would be the ideal choice to lead them. 

2. Brendan Rodgers

The current Leicester City boss has been heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United according to the media reports in England. The Foxes have consistently challenged for a top-four finish in the past couple of seasons. Rodgers helped Leicester win the FA Cup during the 2020/21 season by defeating Chelsea in the final.

Appointing a manager who is currently managing in the Premier League would be a smart decision. He understands the competition well and will have the resources to build a side that challenges for the top-spots. He will have ample funds to bring in desired players, a luxury not available at Leicester City unfortunately.

1. Antonio Conte

The Italian helped Inter Milan win the Serie A last season, thus putting an end to the domestic domination of Juventus. However, he left his position after a difference of opinion with the club management. The Italian is without a club at the moment and could return to the Premier League.

At Newcastle United under the new ownership, Conte will have a free-run at buying the players that fit in his system. The freedom to sign players and build a squad to his liking could be enough persuasion for Conte to manage the club. He has already won the Premier League once with Chelsea during the 2017/18 season and the experience of working in the league again will be an added asset.

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