According to the Mirror, the search for the next Newcastle United manager is coming to an end. Former AS Roma coach Paulo Fonseca is set to be named the Magpies’ manager and will take over the first-team duties from Steve Bruce.
The tactician came close to being named the Tottenham Hotspur manager this summer, but talks ultimately broke down and Spurs decided to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo instead.
Steve Bruce, who had been in charge of the Magpies since the beginning of the 2019/20 season, left the club on Wednesday. While speculation surrounding his future persisted over the past few weeks, especially after Newcastle’s Saudi-backed takeover, the club permitted him to take charge of his 1000th managerial game – a 3-2 loss to Tottenham at home.
Graeme Jones, the assistant to Bruce, was named interim coach and will lead the team in today’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace.
Fonseca was reported to be in the running for the Newcastle managerial job early on. The ex-Roma boss was said to be competing for the spot with Frank Lampard, while reports also linked Steven Gerrard, Unai Emery, and Antonio Conte with the job.
It is believed that the Portuguese was co-owner Amanda Staveley’s choice to take over the first-team after impressing with his short and long-term vision in an interview. Jamie Reuben – co-owner of Newcastle – wanted Lampard to take over the role, but the latter held reservations over the difficult task.
United currently sit 19th in the Premier League table – just a solitary point above bottom side Norwich City. The Magpies have lost five of their eight games so far while drawing the other three.
They currently have the worst defence in the league, having conceded 19 goals already, but they have scored 10 in return. Newcastle are up against a rejuvenated Crystal Palace next, before they play Chelsea (October 30) and an in-form Brighton (November 6).
