Eddie Howe applauding Newcastle fans on the left with Roberto De Zerbi looking ahead on the right

Eddie Howe and Roberto De ZerbiImago

How Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham advantage has disappeared as Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle

Correspondent AUTHORITY Sports journalist with experience at GamingINTEL and GRV Media; University of Wolverhampton graduate. FOCUS Data content, opinion, and general news coverage across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Scott utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, broad-spectrum reporting. He provides the data and opinion foundations behind the headlines to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

Published on:

30 Jul 2026, 8:39 am

Tottenham Hotspur's Roberto De Zerbi could be one Premier League manager disappointed to see Eddie Howe leave Newcastle.

The English manager has taken the decision to depart the Geordies, with him now poised to take a break from management.

For Tottenham, this news is quite relevant. Tottenham Hotspur News has detailed the key dates for the 2026-2027 season, and Newcastle are Spurs' first home game.

So, with around just a month away from that fixture taking place, this has added quite the twist.

On paper, the changing of a long-term manager may be seen as an advantage for Tottenham.

However, De Zerbi could be viewing it differently based on his history.

Why Roberto De Zerbi would have preferred Eddie Howe to stay at Newcastle

De Zerbi and Howe have faced off quite a few times over the years, with four fixtures between the two.

But ahead of next season, it seems that number will not extend.

According to David Ornstein, Howe is set to leave the Geordies after originally joining in 2021.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Eddie Howe set to leave Newcastle United. All parties initially chose to continue but 48yo has informed #NUFC of decision to take break & will depart after 5yrs as head coach. Matthias Jaissle of Al Ahli lined up as replacement @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/zrVnbFEvBd
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 30, 2026

When it came to De Zerbi and Howe's face offs, it was the Italian who had the better of him.

While Howe started off that run of games by getting one over the Italian with a 4-1 win against Brighton in the 2022-2023 season, De Zerbi learned from his mistakes.

In the following three matches, the now-Tottenham boss has an unbeaten record, winning two and drawing one.

In those three fixtures, which span his Brighton and Marseille spells, his sides have scored six while conceding three goals.

These results include a 3-1 win and a 1-1 draw in the 2023-2024 Premier League season with the Seagulls.

As well as a 2-1 win at home with Marseille in the 2025-2026 Champions League.

De Zerbi's overall points per game total against Howe also stands at 1.75 per match as per Transfermarkt.

Among every manager De Zerbi has faced at least four times, Howe is ranked in seventh for favoured opponent.

So, ahead of that inaugural home game for De Zerbi's first full season, he may be disappointed not to face the now former Newcastle manager for a fifth time due to that advantage.

The glaring Tottenham issue Roberto De Zerbi must fix - even Wolves were better

Why Tottenham may have more confidence about securing Europe

Since the start of the 2025-2026 season, 10 out of the 17 Premier League teams that were in the league last year and will compete this upcoming campaign have a new manager.

Of course, Tottenham are included in that total of 10 but that level of change means there are many unknowns to be discovered.

Now, with Howe out of Newcastle, there will be further uncertainty at St. James' Park, especially with most of pre-season already behind them.

Whoever comes into the job up North, with Matthias Jaissle now looking most likely, he will have quite the task on his hands with little preparation heading into the season.

And that could hurt Newcastle in their ambitions to qualify for Europe as well and remove one of Tottenham's rivals from the race.

Olympique de Marseille