Newcastle United’s long wait for a major domestic trophy came to an end on Sunday as they defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Amid the jubilant celebrations, manager Eddie Howe took a moment to pay an emotional tribute to his late mother, Anne, who passed away in 2012, crediting her as a driving force behind his success in football.
The victory marked Newcastle’s first major domestic trophy in 70 years, since their FA Cup triumph in 1955, and saw Howe become the first English manager to win a major domestic men’s prize since Harry Redknapp lifted the FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008. Goals from local hero Dan Burn and star striker Alexander Isak secured the win, despite a late consolation strike from Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa.
In the post-match press conference, Howe, visibly moved and drenched in champagne by his celebrating players, spoke from the heart about the significance of the moment. “Naturally, you end up thinking of the players, the staff, but also the people that aren’t with you,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. “Like for me, my mum and family members. You just think of all the sacrifices and hard work they gave you as a child to give you the opportunity to have a good life. I’ve always had the thought that I want to make my family proud.”
Howe’s connection to his mother has been a recurring theme throughout his career. Raised by Anne as a single parent in Verwood, Dorset, after his parents’ separation, Howe has often spoken of her profound influence. She took him on a tour of Wembley as a young boy, an experience he recalled vividly before the final. “She took me for a tour around Wembley as a five or six-year-old, lifting the fake FA Cup, walking out with the fake crowd noise,” Howe reflected earlier this week. “My football opportunity is all down to her. She was my driving force as a child.”
The emotional weight of the victory was palpable as Howe fought back tears, dedicating the triumph to Anne and the Newcastle faithful. “I’ve sort of got a vision of her willing me on,” he told reporters. “That’s helped me. It’s really given me strength in difficult moments in my career.” The 47-year-old manager, who has transformed Newcastle since taking over in November 2021, added, “This was a victory for everyone—the club, the city, everyone who has given loyalty and support over the last number of decades and suffered the pain of defeats.”
The match itself was a testament to Howe’s tactical acumen and the resilience he has instilled in his squad. Newcastle took the lead just before halftime when Dan Burn, a Geordie native, headed in a corner from Kieran Trippier. Alexander Isak doubled the advantage in the second half with a clinical finish, and despite Chiesa’s late goal, the Magpies held firm to secure the historic win. Howe admitted surprise at Burn’s goal, noting, “We worked consistently for two weeks on set-plays just for this game, and if you’d seen us in practice, you would have said we had no chance.”
The victory sparked wild celebrations among Newcastle’s players and fans, with the dressing room erupting in scenes of joy. Midfielder Joelinton led the festivities, dousing Howe in champagne, while Sean Longstaff drank from the trophy, and Dan Burn danced in front of his teammates. Outside, the Toon Army, who had traveled in droves to Wembley, erupted in a sea of black and white, ending decades of heartache with a moment of pure ecstasy.
Since taking over a relegation-threatened Newcastle side, he has overseen a remarkable turnaround, blending astute signings like Isak and Bruno Guimaraes with a fierce defensive discipline that stifled Liverpool’s attacking threats, including Mohamed Salah, who was rendered ineffective.
As the celebrations continued, Howe urged his players to savor the moment but also to use it as a springboard for further success. “There has to be a celebration,” he said. “We have to celebrate with our supporters because they have waited for so long. But hopefully one can become more—it proves we can do it.” For now, though, the focus remains on the joy of the present, a victory made all the more poignant by Howe’s heartfelt tribute to his mother, whose memory fueled his journey to this historic triumph.