Eddie Howe's tenure as Newcastle manager, which began in November 2021 with the club 19th in the Premier League, concluded with a 12th-place finish last season. Despite steering the team to 11th by the end of his first campaign and a notable fourth-place finish in 2022-23, the recent season saw a dip in performance.
During his time in charge, only four clubs earned more Premier League points than Newcastle. The 2022-23 season's fourth-place finish marked the first time a team outside England's established 'big six' had achieved a top-four berth since Everton in 2004-05.
However, the 12th-place finish in 2025-26 was considered worse than several campaigns during the Mike Ashley era, particularly given the club's budget under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Injuries were a factor in the final season, with only Harvey Barnes, Aaron Ramsdale, and Malick Thiaw featuring in all 38 Premier League games.
Newcastle also reportedly underperformed their expected goals at both ends of the pitch. While the club's average finishing position under Howe aligned with their eighth-highest salary bill in the Premier League, his exit was not a complete surprise.