The Chronicle are reporting today that the final three for the Newcastle head coach position are Patrick Vieira, Steve McClaren and Remi Garde, and presumably all three will have interviews this week, and it’s then up to Lee Charnley to choose the successor to Alan Pardew, who left (very) quickly after the home game against Everton at the end of December.
Newcastle then went into almost a death dive into the Championship but we saved ourselves with a great 2-0 win at home to West Ham in the final game of the season.
Remi Garde – back in the running
In the current betting on SkyBet, Vieira is 10/11 McClaren is evens (1/1) and Garde is listed at 12/1 who he is the rank outsider at the moment.
So it’s extremely close between McClaren and Vieira.
Vieira is yet to hold a head coach position so he would be a risk – but on a risk reward basis he could become a top coach in the future and he’s very well thought of at Manchester City.
Many in the game think he has everything it takes to become a top coach including Manchester City’s Football Administration Officer Marwood, who has allowed Patrick to learn the coaching game at his own pace over the last three years.
This is what Marwood said in the Telegraph last year about Patrick:
“That was one of the most valuable experiences he’s had in his whole professional career. It gave him an appreciation of what else made a football club, the hard work so many people are doing to try and make this club special.”
“He has such an interesting mix of characteristics in terms of football experience, life experience and there’s a humility about the man, a respect, a calmness, a thoroughness in terms of his preparations.”
“I’ve seen the detail he works to. He’s tough but it’s done with a velvet glove.” “I’ve watched him very carefully, and stayed close to him, because I really believe he has a fantastic future in the game.”
Patrick has grabbed the headlines over the weekend as he came from 35/1 to odds on favorite in a couple of days so there’s big money being placed on him.
49 year-old Remi Garde did very well indeed at Lyon where he was manager for three years and left on his own accord about a year ago, to take a sabbatical and he has been a pundit on French TV over the last year.
His record at Lyon was managed 117 games, won 60, drew 26 and lost 31 for a win ratio of 51.3%
Remi was at Arsenal from 1996 through 1999 as a player as he finished his playing career, and he was schooled in the Arsene Wenger school of management.
Garde has shown he can get the very best out of players at Lyon, and a few years back he was linked with the Director of Football role at Arsenal.
Remi brought through Alexandre Lacazette and others while at Lyon – and that’s a key part of the Newcastle job, and he was in the running in January and would want to bring in his own coaching staff, if reports are to be believed.
54 year-old Steve McClaren is the most experienced and oldest of the three, and has been in coaching since 1995 and spent two years at Manchester United as the assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson.
Steve has been the head coach at five clubs – Middlesbrough, FC Twente (twice), Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest and Derby County – but has been fired from the last three of them – although he did well initially at Derby County.
He had success while he was in Holland with FC Twente, and he took Middlesbrough to their first trophy in their history when they won the League Cup in 2004 beating Bolton 2-1 in the final.
He also took Middlesbrough to the UEFA Cup Final in 2006, only to lose to Sevilla 4-0 in the final in Eindhoven.
Steve also had a disastrous spell as the England manager, but he is highly thought of as a coach in the game.
But we just haven’t seen in his record much that would say he would be successful at Newcastle – but he does have support among some Newcastle fans.
The thing going for him is that Graham Carr is said to want him at the club.
So there’s a mini-profile on the three candidates.
In our poll between McClaren and Vieira there were a massive 97% of fans in favor of Patrick Vieira – but with there now being three final contenders let us know ho you would like as head coach.

Comments welcome.
155 comments so far
JamesToon
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:13 PM
Comment #1why isn’t laudrup/bielsa/de boer on the shortlist???
HarriboNo9
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:13 PM
Comment #2Viera
Our Toon
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:14 PM
Comment #3Has to be Garde, Viera has zero experience….what’s all the excitement about with him. Have I missed something?
Our Toon
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:16 PM
Comment #4James Toon
Completely agree with you mate, have you seen the names being linked to west ham…We have to settle for a complete novice in viera or an idiot in mcclaren. Garde isn’t a bad option but surely if Ashley was serious about winning something then he’d look at the ones you’ve mentioned
Graeme
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:17 PM
Comment #5Head says Garde, Heart says Vieira.
Either will be a huge improvement on what we have had at any time under Ashley.
shay Robson
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:21 PM
Comment #6just looking around, all clubs have them. are you guys saying the big man doess it all? he is just the owner i want to know who works for him in both the bard and executive board.
Chelsea Ltd.
Owner: Roman Abramovich
Chelsea F.C. plc
Chairman: Bruce Buck
Directors: Marina Granovskaia and Eugene Tenenbaum
Executive Board
Finance and Operations Director: Chris Alexander
Club Secretary: David Barnard
Company secretary: Alan Shaw
Directors: Marina Granovskaia and Eugene Tenenbaum
Chelsea Football Club Board:
Bruce Buck
Eugene Tenenbaum
Head of global commercial activities: Christian Purslow[155]
David Barnard
Football operations director: Mike Forde
Technical director: Michael Emenalo
sunderland:
Board of Directors[edit]
Position Name
Owner/Chairman Ellis Short
Chief Executive Margaret Byrne
Finance Director Angela Lowes
Commercial Director Gary Hutchinson
Director Per Magnus Andersson
Sporting Director Lee Congerton
QPR:
Position Name Nationality
Owners Tony Fernandes
Lakshmi Mittal Malaysian
Indian
Chairman Tony Fernandes Malaysian
Vice-Chairman Amit Bhatia Indian
Board Members Tony Fernandes Malaysian
Amit Bhatia Indian
Kamarudin Meranun Malaysian
CEO Lee Hoos American
COO Mark Donnelly English
where is the info on the men in charge and running NEWCASTLE UNITED??
JamesToon
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:22 PM
Comment #7Our toon
West ham’s supposed shortlist:
De boer (would love him)
Bielsa (would love him)
Unai Emery
Slaven Billic
Laudrup and Garde better be the top 2 candidates who we go all out to get.
JamesToon
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:23 PM
Comment #8We do need a DOF/sporting director, someone who knows the club through and through and knows football and business through and through, aka ferdinand/keegan
cyprus
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:25 PM
Comment #9Ed,
a tip. There must be about ten people in line for the job, so every couple days there’ll be a new name in the hat. Relax, sit back, wait.
Thought no one but JC wants this job 😉
BandB
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:26 PM
Comment #10Ian Dennis is a cautious, well-connected journalist who has been around Newcastle United since before a fair few of you were born.
If he has a steer that Garde is out of the running, I wouldn’t bet on him at 100-1with someone else’s money.
Carver is more likely to get the job.
JDdubai
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:27 PM
Comment #11To be honest, at least its not JC im relatively happy with that.
Garde would be first choice as long as he gets to bring in his own backroom team, then Vieira then McClaren.
Even McClaren is better than the prospect of JC though which my tormented mind still pictures us rnding up with..
Polarboy
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:29 PM
Comment #12Ian Dennis is saying that Garde isn’t on the list. If it’s between Ryder and Dennis on who to believe then I know who I’ll go with. If we are to go by the betting then Laudrup is likely the third candidate.
Of course the cynical side of me questions just how serious the “football board” are about going for someone who will truly take us forward.
hibbit
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:29 PM
Comment #13cyprus McLaren must not want it he has turned us down 3 times why do we keep going back
cyprus
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:29 PM
Comment #14Graeme,
under Ashley we had KK. No one is better than that mate, maybe Guardiola 😉
BandB
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:31 PM
Comment #15cyprus
Have you got something in your eye?
swemag
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:32 PM
Comment #16Man…brings back memories from last year…it can be expected to be announced by the end of this week.
Last year that week turned out to be more like a month.
On another note, I remember being cautiously optimistic at the start of the season last year with the signings we had done. Specifically with de Jong. That didn’t turn out too well. Nothing did.
cyprus
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:34 PM
Comment #17Hibbit,
Agreed there. I want someone who is desperate to come here AND succeed.
Would love KK as D O F. When he was asked what went wrong with MA and him, he thought a while and answered ‘too many people in between’. I think I know who he meant 🙂
BandB
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:35 PM
Comment #18swemag
It has been reported today that it could be Friday if things go well.
But also that it could be the middle of June before an announcement was made.
optimistic prime
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:35 PM
Comment #19Mclaren got sacked from his last 3 jobs.
He’s a cert
Our Toon
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:36 PM
Comment #20Welcome to Newcastle Untied a club where expectations have been well and truly managed. The response of many seems to be at least it’s not carver or mcclaren. Would we all have accepted a complete novice like Viera before Ashley?
shay Robson
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:36 PM
Comment #21I guess its only mike and lee who run the club every day?
cyprus
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:36 PM
Comment #22B,
No that’s a wink 😉 You know
lesh
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:37 PM
Comment #23Ah well, we know which way this is going to go.
Viera’s his own man and probably won’t take kindly to having players sold from under him;
Remy Garde could be a good un but he’ll want to bring his own backroom staff. The drawback there is that there’s no-one to develop into HC for when a HC leaves – succession planning. It would mean recruiting a coach as we know that Mr Carver isn’t up to it. And, would he take kindly to having players sold from under him?
Steve McLaren – experienced and probably happy to toe Ashley’s ludicrous line!
So, McLaren it is – unless Charnley’s tried and succeeded in persuading Ashley to change his ways about selling top players.
This is a crucial decision and any announcement needs to show ambition to take the club forward.
So, I’m not going to hold my breath for that.
BandB
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:38 PM
Comment #24cyprus,
Well, it’s nice to know one of your eyes is open 😉
Our Toon
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:39 PM
Comment #25James Toon
Unai Emery is a top coach/manager, just won the Europa League twice in a row, defended the title this year!! Did a class job at Valencia, lost players like Villa and Silva but still finished 3rd.
cyprus
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:42 PM
Comment #26That’s usually how it works 😉
BandB
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:43 PM
Comment #27Lovely…I worried it was a twitch.
ilovetoon8788
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:46 PM
Comment #28Just look at the names linked with the West ham job and us. I’m shocked. Have we fallen so low? We have been stuck with mcclaren being favorite for the job for about 5 months now and hoddle redknapp and what nots..
While biesla, De boer are linked with west ham. Amazing.
shay Robson
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:47 PM
Comment #29Leicester:
Board Members & Directors
Role Person
Chairman Thailand Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
Vice Chairman Thailand Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha
Vice Chairman China Shilai Liu
Chief Executive Republic of Ireland Susan Whelan
Executive Director Thailand Supornthip Choungrangsee
Executive Director Scotland Malcolm Stewart-Smith
Director Of Football England Jon Rudkin
Football Operations Director England Andrew Neville
Finance Director England Simon Capper
Operations Director England Kevin Barclay
No one has been able to tell me who is running NEWCASTLE UNITED. to say its mike alone is definitely not the case….
armchair fan
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:48 PM
Comment #30Man I wish I was Vieira
cyprus
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:49 PM
Comment #31Your upset? Let me see why…
Maybe you thought my first wink was photographing you? The comment about only JC wanting the job? You said that? Had no idea. Anyway, no offense meant.
BandB
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:52 PM
Comment #32Lesh,
Do you think MClaren could have gone from turning us down twice to wanting to take the job knowing he’s the choice of only four cent of fans?
I would run away if I was him.
JAMSHA(CARVER SLAYER)
Jun 1, 2015 at 4:59 PM
Comment #33viera as manager? no…he needs to start from.low 1st..cnt take a big jump at a big club
MANAGER – REMI GARDE
ASSISTANT MANAGER – PATRICK VIEIRA
COACHES – SHERAR, LOVERBOY, MALDINI, OLIVER KHAN
nightfa11
Jun 1, 2015 at 5:00 PM
Comment #34why does anyone want laudrup (out of all possibilites) i do not know..
many people complain about his work ethics..
“swansea” played well under him – he inherited the squad from rodgers..swansea were nowhere, until rodgers arrived..
im not saying laudrup is a bad manager, but hes nothing special (yet?).. better than carver and mclaren, but so is 99% of managers..(except for pardew and big sam 🙂 )
personally i wouldt mind to see shola as an assistant..he can be a bit of a donkey with a ball in his feet, but hes quite intelligent..
shay Robson
Jun 1, 2015 at 5:01 PM
Comment #35Chief executive Lee Charnley
WHO ELSE IS THERE OR DOES HE DO IT ALL ALONE?
John Tudor
Jun 1, 2015 at 5:03 PM
Comment #36Head says Garde, Heart says Vieira Charmless says Mclaren
BandB
Jun 1, 2015 at 5:04 PM
Comment #37Heart says Vieira
Head says Ashley Out!
dok - the horrid colonial
Jun 1, 2015 at 5:06 PM
Comment #38if we can have jfk here 2x, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if McLaren got it…
and I will throw up in my mouth if that happens… thus disproving Ashley’s statement he made previous to our last game…
Mag52
Jun 1, 2015 at 5:07 PM
Comment #39Our Toon.
The excitement about Viera is, I suppose, the fact that he would represent a choice totally out of character with the Ashley norm, and thus, even if he doesn’t work out, an indication that there is, at last, more ambition in the club to have a go at a bit of silverware.
dok - the horrid colonial
Jun 1, 2015 at 5:07 PM
Comment #40BandB,
your hands should also be pushing Ashley off the cliffs of Dover as well 😉