Howe’s departure marks the end of a transformative era for the Magpies, one that saw the club rise from the threat of relegation to the heights of European competition and end a 70-year trophy drought with a historic Carabao Cup triumph. Given insists that Howe’s impact places him alongside the club’s most legendary figures.
“Howe has done an incredible job as Newcastle United manager, he really has,” Given noted. “When he took over they were 19th in the Premier League. He got them into the Champions League twice, won their first domestic trophy in 70 years, and I could keep listing off what he’s achieved!
“There will be a lot of emotion on Tyneside over this. It’s already been an emotional couple of weeks at Newcastle with Kevin Keegan’s sad passing and I think Eddie forged a similar sort of connection with the people of Newcastle too, like Kevin and Bobby Robson had before him.
“He really understood the city and its people. He lived in the city. I think the fans will be hurting that he’s left.”