Isolated and alone: Celtic target on the making of his managerial career at Portsmouth

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Eddie Howe believes his Pompey injury nightmare made him a better manager.

But the former Blues defender has told how he felt ‘isolated’ and ‘alone’ at Fratton Park following the injury which wrecked his playing career.

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Howe was Harry Redknapp’s first signing as Pompey manager after he arrived at Fratton Park in March 2002, sealing a £400,000 move from Bournemouth.

But his time at PO4 took a dark turn when he suffered a knee injury on the opening day of the 2002-03 season against Nottingham Forest. His career was never the same again.

Howe often cut a disconsolate figure at Pompey’s Eastleigh training ground through his rehabilitation and he never made another appearance in royal blue, before returning to Dean Court in 2004.

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Now he has spoken of a desperate period in his life, and the impact that had on shaping his managerial career.

In an interview with The Coaches’ Voice, Howe said: ‘There’s no doubt that my injuries accelerated my move into coaching. Without them I would have continued to play; with them, I was forced to look at the game differently.

Eddie Howe.  Picture: Scott Heavey/PA WireEddie Howe.  Picture: Scott Heavey/PA Wire
Eddie Howe. Picture: Scott Heavey/PA Wire

‘I knew I wouldn’t be playing very long after the serious injury I got at Portsmouth I was well aware that my career was going to be cut short – I could feel it in my body – so I was looking at alternative ways to find employment in the game.

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‘There’s also no doubt that that period has made me a better manager. I felt very isolated and alone – not through any fault of Portsmouth – and, when you’re in that place, you feel detached from the bubble that is football.

‘Even though I wouldn’t have wanted it for myself at the time, in hindsight it was probably a very good thing for me.’

Howe has also told how watching Redknapp and his assistant Jim Smith work, was helpful in his coaching education.

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Eddie Howe up against Richard Hughes during training at Eastleigh in their Pompey days. Picture: Steve ReidEddie Howe up against Richard Hughes during training at Eastleigh in their Pompey days. Picture: Steve Reid
Eddie Howe up against Richard Hughes during training at Eastleigh in their Pompey days. Picture: Steve Reid

The 43-year-old explained how their approach was poles apart from his former Bournemough manager Sean O’Driscoll, who is now part of the Pompey academy set-up.

He said: ‘Harry, and his assistant Jim Smith (both below), were really good. They were totally different again to Sean (O’Driscoll), but I learned a lot – even if injuries meant I didn’t really kick a ball for them.

‘I was watching a lot, and analysing from afar. Theirs was a team that got promoted to the Premier League, and stayed in the Premier League. It was a great experience.’

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