Former Celtic manager-in-waiting Eddie Howe has been officially confirmed as the next manager of Newcastle United.
The 43-year-old has finally ended his 16-month managerial exile since walking away from Bournemouth after their relegation from the Premier League.
And he is jumping back into another battle for survival but this time he will be backed with serious cash by the new Saudi Arabian owners of the Magpies on a deal until summer 2024.
Howe almost called time on his sabbatical back in May to become Celtic boss but he got cold feet and walked away from protracted talks with the Parkhead side.
It's understood one of the stumbling blocks over his potential move to Glasgow was over his backroom team and it's not yet been confirmed whether key lieutenants Simon Weatherstone and Stephen Purches will join him at St James' Park.
Howe said: "It is a great honour to become head coach of a club with the stature and history of Newcastle United. It is a very proud day for me and my family.
"This is a wonderful opportunity, but there is also a lot of work ahead of us and I am eager to get on to the training ground to start working with the players.
"I would like to thank the club's owners for this opportunity and thank the club's supporters for the incredible welcome they have already given me. I am very excited to begin our journey together."
Howe had been in the mix for a host of openings and retains a strong reputation due to his incredible work with Bournemouth.
He led the Cherries from League Two to the Premier League over two spells before keeping them in the richest league in the world for five consecutive seasons.
Concerns over his misstep at Burnley have been raised but the Englishman was in his mid-30s when he moved to Turf Moor.
And now he heads north again as he aims to revitalise a Newcastle side who have yet to win a top flight match this season under Steven Bruce and caretaker Graeme Jones.
