More than two years ago, when Newcastle United were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage, speculation was rife that our Middle Eastern majority-owners were looking to replace Eddie Howe with a serial winner.

The name in the frame was Jose Mourinho, at the time manager of Roma. At the time, I argued strongly in an article on The Mag that appointing the “Special One” would be a retrograde step, despite all his success.

Here we are again, soon after our club’s second Champions League campaign in three seasons. This time the name is Pep Guardiola, whose Manchester City team lasted no longer than Newcastle in their latest European adventure.

Guardiola first won the tournament with Barcelona in 2009 and again in 2011. His third success was with his current club in 2023.

Add to that impressive achievement three La Liga titles, three Bundesliga titles and six English Premier League titles, two Spanish Cups, two German Cups, two FA Cups, five English League Cups. The honours are almost endless, also including Fifa Club World Cups, Uefa Super Cups and Community Shields. Perhaps surprisingly, he has been named the world’s best coach a mere three times, first in...