Newcastle’s improvement under Howe skyrocketed and, in his first full season, he led them to a fourth-place finish and a return to the Champions League.
The backing from the club’s new owners certainly helped with that rapid improvement, with Howe having spent £85m in his first transfer window in January 2022 to bolster his squad in their relegation battle.
They were not, however, what would be described as the sort of big-name players that some might have expected as in came the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier.
The club’s precarious league position at that time played a part in the sort of players they were able to attract and, after safety was comfortably assured, Newcastle spent £123m on signings in the summer of 2022.
A club record £63m was spent on Swedish striker Alexander Isak from La Liga side Real Sociedad, while Sven Botman (£35m), Matt Targett (£15m) and Nick Pope (£10m) also came in.
A pre-season training camp in the Austrian Alps was to prove crucial in fostering a close bond between the players and coaching staff, one that would be evident throughout the 2022-23 season as Newcastle maintained their challenge at the top end of the table.
After victories, huge group photos would be posted on the club’s social media accounts, a tradition that remains in place to this day.
“They published the first dressing room photo after the first win under Howe against Burnley,” Raisbeck added.
“His explanation for why they did it was that he wanted the players and staff in the future to be able to look back and have memories of what they achieved and remember the highs of these specific games.”
The 2022-23 season was not just special for Newcastle fans for securing a return to top-level European football, but for also reaching a first cup final at Wembley in almost two decades.
There they faced Manchester United in February 2023 in the League Cup final and there were memorable scenes as thousands of Newcastle fans filled Trafalgar Square before the game, but there was not to be a fairytale outcome on that occasion as Newcastle lost game 2-0.
Maybe they will build a statue of him’
The peak of Newcastle’s transformation during Howe’s time at the club was to come on Wednesday, 4 October 2023.
That night St James’ Park hosted Champions League football for the first time in more than 20 years and a Paris St-Germain team led by Kylian Mbappe was beaten 4-1.
“This was Newcastle United at their best,” Raisbeck said. “It will be talked about forever.
“It showed what they were capable of at that moment but also, hopefully, a glimpse of what can be their reality for years to come.”
Ultimately, they struggled to compete in both Europe and the Premier League while also dealing with an injury crisis that saw them without 20 players at some points.
A run of one win in seven games from 7 December until 13 January 2024 even saw some talk of Howe being under pressure but their form improved enough to secure a respectable seventh-place finish.
Inconsistency and injuries were an issue again this season but Newcastle have overcome those to end their long wait for a trophy.
“There is a statue at St James’ Park of Bobby Robson,” former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given said on Sky Sports after Sunday’s final.
“Maybe they will build one of Eddie Howe.”
