EDDIE HOWE has always wanted to be a superhero at Bournemouth — and our picture proves it.
The Cherries boss once rocked up at a Christmas party dressed as Robin, with former team-mate Carl Fletcher as Batman.
It is typical that quiet and unassuming Howe opted to play the junior partner of the Dynamic Duo.
But victory over Southampton today at the Vitality will see Bournemouth leapfrog their more illustrious rivals to become the senior partner of the Premier League’s South Coast duo.
The photo was taken in one of his favourite Italian restaurants — La Piccola — in Bournemouth.
Its owner, long-time Cherries fan Graziano Piovan, 57, said: “He was already destined to become a superhero but now he really is one.
“I knew he’d go far but never in my wildest dreams with Bournemouth.”
It is all a far cry from nearly eight years ago when Howe first took charge, with the Cherries second from bottom in League
Two, in administration and sometimes with nowhere to train.
He showed incredible survival skills — and even resorted to BEGGING for food.
Mark Molesley, 35, who played in Howe’s first game in charge — a 2-1 loss at Darlington, said: “We were lucky to be training because most days the ground got padlocked by the administrators.
“Some weeks we didn’t get paid and the club was under a transfer embargo so couldn’t sign anyone either.
“But Eddie came in and galvanised the team straight away. It was the tiny things that made the difference — he begged and borrowed what he could.
“He went cap in hand to the local Italian pizza place — La Piccola — asking if they’d provide the team with a free lunch on
Fridays after training because he wanted to reward them for reaching objectives but didn’t have any money to do it. The restaurant was low budget where they’d do a bit of pasta and pizza for a fiver each. But that was a treat compared to the soup and sandwiches we’d usually get after training.
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“Eddie would take us go-karting, too, to get the team bonding.
“He’d come to an arrangement with local businesses in return for an advert in our programme or whatever. Eddie could always make gold out of sand. That is one of his greatest qualities and why he is doing so well in the Premier League.”
Molesley, now the club’s Under-21s No 2, feels Howe is ahead of his time as a coach.
He said: “I’ve never seen a session so well planned and thought out as the ones I’ve seen at Bournemouth.
“Eddie is a pioneer in England. He’s always coming up with new ideas and makes training exciting.
“You’d do a simple passing drill and then all of a sudden it would become so much bigger because of the detail he went into.
“It wasn’t just pass and follow, it was how you received the ball, your body shape, your movements. It was incredible stuff.
“He’s honest, too. That’s one of the best things about him.”
Shwan Jalal, 33, now at National League Wrexham, played in goal for Howe’s first game — and was ruthlessly axed after it.
He recalled: “He had a frank and honest conversation with me and told me, ‘You’ve got to up your levels’ and dropped me.
“While I didn’t agree, I took it on the chin and was back after sitting out four matches. I didn’t look back after that.
“That’s Eddie’s great management skill.
“He’s able to get the very best out of every single player.”
Former academy director John Williams brought Howe through the youth ranks from the age of 13 and believes he is destined to manage England. He said: “I hope he’ll become England boss for the country’s sake.
“But one thing is certain, if we finish anywhere near the top ten, someone is going to try to get him — because they’d be stupid not to.”
For now, Bournemouth are enjoying the ride and Williams, 56, said: “I stared at my TV the other night for an entire hour when it showed we were eighth in the table. It’s a football miracle.”
And Howe is very much a real Bournemouth superhero.
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