EXCLUSIVE
Harry Redknapp has urged Newcastle boss Eddie Howe to take the England job if it becomes available to him.
Howe has become one of the leading names to succeed Gareth Southgate despite his contract at St James’ Park running until 2027.
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The 46-year-old has worked wonders in turning the Magpies from a relegation-threatened outfit to the Champions League since taking over as boss in 2022.
England U21 head coach Lee Carsley, ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter and Blues legend Frank Lampard are all in the frame according to bookmakers but Howe is the current favourite.
His heroics since arriving on Tyneside has made him a prime candidate for the job and Redknapp believes poaching Howe would be a good call by the FA.
The former Tottenham, Portsmouth and Southampton boss himself was linked to the England job many times over his career.
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His best chance came in 2012 when Fabio Capello left the Three Lions, only for Roy Hodgson to be hired.
Redknapp never did get to manage his nation and implored Howe to take the chance while he can.
“I think Eddie Howe would be a good choice,” Redknapp told talkSPORT. “I think Eddie would end up getting the job but he’s at Newcastle. I want to see an Englishman get it.
Redknapp, who made Howe his first signing after taking over as Portsmouth boss in 2002, believes the Newcastle manager will have mixed feelings over the possibility of taking English football’s top job after steering the Magpies to the cusp of European football again.
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“I think he will be torn, it’s a difficult one,” Redkanpp added. “He’s done a great job at a great club in Newcastle
“Eddie is not one for upsetting the apple cart. He tows the party line very well, I know him, I signed him as a player.
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"I’ve followed his career closely, I have great respect for Eddie.
“He came out the other day and said one or two things about control at the club. Maybe he’s laying a bit of groundwork there to maybe have a disagreement with Newcatsle and I think the England job would suit him fine.
“If we’re honest about it, Eddie is a Bournemouth boy who lives two minutes from where I live. This gets him back home, gets him managing the England team, what a great job for him to have
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“It’s the pinnacle of any manager's career to manage your country so I think if England came calling, Eddie would find it very difficult to refuse.”
Redknapp also reserved a special mention for former Three Lions duo Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, two managers in the formative years of their careers.
"I'm not saying they'll get it, there's very little chance that they will even get an interview, Redknapp said.
"I'm a big fan of Lampard and Gerrard. They played in tournaments. Okay, people will look at it and go ‘well, they didn't succeed.’
"Gerrard did a great job at Rangers. Frank's had experience at Derby and you need good players.
"I think he went to Everton who were struggling," he continued. "They've had people like [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Marco] Silva and [Ronald] Koeman, they’ve all failed. None of them did any good, Difficult job.
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"I'm not one for writing people off if they’ve not really taken their opportunities. It doesn't mean they can't manage.
"Gareth Southgate didn't do a great job at Middlesbrough, lost his job, came back and managed England.
"So, you know I'm going for two people that I've got great respect for
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"They were fantastic players, incredible professionals who know the game inside out, played in World Cups, played in European championships under international managers.
"Why should they be written off?"
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