Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has said he remains dedicated to the club and will stay there as long as he is “happy and feels supported”, amid reports linking him with the England head coach job following the departure of Gareth Southgate.
Southgate, who took charge of England in 2016, announced his departure on Tuesday after their second successive defeat in the Euro 2016 final, this time a devastating 2-1 loss to Spain.
There has been speculation that England will look for another homegrown replacement, with Howe or former Chelsea manager Graham Potter considered favourites, but they could also be open to a high-profile replacement from elsewhere.
“I haven't really thought about anything else and I've been very committed to my job here,” Howe told BBC Radio on Friday from Newcastle's training camp in Germany.
“For me, as long as I'm happy, I feel supported and free to do the job I love doing at Newcastle, I'll be very happy, and I am.”
“I feel absolutely honoured and privileged to be Newcastle manager. I hope it will be like this for many, many years to come. I am determined to win a trophy for the football club – that is on my mind every day.”
The Football Association (FA) publicly advertised the head coaching position on Friday, calling for candidates to apply for the vacant post on the careers portal on its website.
The job description specifies the need for a coach who can lead the team to “win a major tournament” as the England men's team has not won a major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
The successful candidate will also “have significant experience in English football, with a strong track record of delivering results in the Premier League and/or major international competitions,” the FA added.
The FA has set August 2 as the deadline for applications before the Nations League begins in September.
