Current Portsmouth midfielder and former Newcastle United stalwart has expressed immense praise on Eddie Howe for what he’s done with his team over the last few seasons.
Having spent years of his career under Howe at both Bournemouth and with us, Ritchie learned first hand how dedicated the gaffer is to his role.
Here’s what the former Scotland international had to say about his beloved old boss:
Ritchie on Howe’s “relentless” approach
Speaking on Saturday Night Football as a pundit for our game against Aston Villa, Ritchie spoke briefly on the positive football culture Howe instils at the club, and the immense dedication he shows to players to help them develop.
“The one word I can use to describe him is relentless.”
“He’s a special man off the pitch, but you step into a football environment or training pitch, he wants individuals to grow.”
“He creates an environment where you can be open, you can challenge yourself, if he wants you to work on your weaknesses.”
The 47-year-old, alongside coaching partners like Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones, has earned his reputation as one of the hardest-working men in the Premier League, with perhaps no other manager in the top flight striving to see their players improve both on and off the pitch quite like Howe does.
“It’s no accident”
Almost immediately since coming into the Newcastle job back at the end of 2021, the difference in quality exhibited by some Newcastle players has been absolutely night and day, which Ritchie attributes solely to Howe’s style of coaching.
“It’s no accident when you look at the players who’ve improved under his leadership.”
“Jacob Murphy, Joelinton, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, all good players with huge potential, and he’s brought them on and given them to produce that along with all the other guys and the coaches.”
Joelinton in particular stands out: a misfiring striker signed for a record fee under Steve Bruce, Howe transformed the Brazilian into not only the best midfield enforcer in the league, but also a full-fledged international for his country.
One cannot deny that even with the prospect of big money and European football on the table, the opportunity to play and transform under Eddie Howe will be something that appeals to a lot of players this summer in the transfer window.
What Howe has done for the likes of Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, and the club as a whole has rightfully caught everyone’s eye and earned everyone’s praise.
