A mobile phone is slid across the table and Eddie Howe pores over it, eyes lighting up and grin widening. On it reads a tweet from Gary Lineker sent in the midst of Bournemouth’s promotion party.

As thousands spilled onto the Dean Court pitch after beating Bolton, Lineker was glowing in his praise. Howe’s achievements make the ex-England striker ‘wonder whether we’ve possibly found the English special one’.

Call comparisons with Jose Mourinho overly hyperbolic, but the Match of the Day presenter is well-placed to judge.

Eddie Howe stands in front of a picture of George Best, who played five games for Bournemouth, at the club

The architect of Bournemouth's rise from the fourth tier to the first, Howe is a remarkably modest man

Howe celebrates with the Championship trophy in front of Bournemouth's fans at The Valley on Saturday

Howe poses with Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn following the Cherries' final game of the season

This exchange is the only time during Howe’s first sit-down interview as a Premier League manager that he deviates from a relaxed but authoritative stance. As he removes an arm draped over an adjacent chair for the first time in 20 minutes, Howe is emotional.

‘For him to even know my name I find...’ he paused, unusually lost for words momentarily. ‘Yeah. I find that amazing for me personally.

‘The fact he’s said something nice is even better. Those words are fantastic. I always say when players are linked elsewhere I see it as a compliment and that to be directed at me means the same.

‘As an Everton fan, Gary was one of my idols growing up. He was a real inspiration to a young budding footballer.

‘He knows my name...’

The achievements of Eddie Howe at Bournemouth make me wonder whether we've possibly found the English 'special one'. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 27, 2015

The Bournemouth squad celebrate clinching the title and promotion to the Premier League

Howe signals to fans during Bournemouth's promotion party after sealing their top flight status

Howe leads the open-top bus parade as thousands flock the streets and beaches of the vibrant Dorset town

Howe shouldn’t be so surprised. Many want to talk about the brightest young manager in England and for good reason.

The 37-year-old has clinched promotion with Bournemouth from League Two, League One and now the Championship in a whirlwind double spell.

This tale is as much about him as it is the club. The ‘philosophy’ he and assistant Jason Tindall have passionately evolved over time; the right and wrong time to play table tennis; the information packs handed to new signings telling them they must be at the stadium early on matchday to sign autographs.

It’s all in the detail. Little wonder he was crowned the Football League’s Manager of the Decade this month — Howe is their Mourinho. They are sad to see him go after a first ever ascent to the top flight was finally confirmed at Charlton on Saturday. Fitting, perhaps, Bournemouth were crowned champions after 111 days at the division’s summit.

That rise has been staggeringly swift and a number of top-flight managers sent congratulatory messages to the new kid. They recognise the enormity of Bournemouth’s story.

That the Cherries were minutes away from folding seven years ago is one well told and Howe, speaking inside an executive box at Dean Court, doesn’t dwell. He embraces their history, pays respect to those involved, but looks forward.

Howe became the youngest Football League boss when he took charge at Bournemouth in 2009, aged just 31

Howe took his place in the spotlight after Bouremouth's 3-0 win over Bolton all-but guaranteed their promotion

Attention turns to the celebrations last Monday night. That he was so overt, addressing the supporters on the pitch and joining in with the champagne, was refreshing but also unexpected given his reserved public persona.

‘The difficulty is if I hadn’t taken that approach people would’ve labelled me very negative,’ he says. ‘That could have spoilt the moment. I do prefer to watch others celebrate really. It’s not natural to me. I don’t seek attention or public accolades.

‘But even so, when you achieve something unique it’s nice to share those moments with your family because I’ve been in football these are rare.’

Family was why Howe decided the time was right to move back for a second spell in 2012 after managing Burnley. His mother had died and he felt moving back down south was the only choice for those around him.

But he rejects the suggestion that he is a homebird, someone incapable of moving onto other challenges later in his career. West Ham have been mentioned as potential suitors this summer and, while it is hard to envisage that so soon, Bournemouth are likely to lose their messiah in the coming years.

‘Nothing lasts forever. I would have no hesitation [moving]. Not moving because of location isn’t the right pigeon hole for your career. We’ll wait and see what happens and what the future holds.’

Howe has everything he needs here, particularly an ever-lasting rapport with the supporters. He was slightly late for this interview after spending time chatting to a gaggle waiting outside the stadium, actually sorting Charlton tickets out for a couple. Those fans won’t forget that.

Already assured of his status as a fans' favourite, Bournemouth supporters pay tribute to their beloved boss

Howe and chairman Jeff Mostyn share a lovely moment after the Cherries finished top of the Championship

He will observe training sessions in either Italy or Spain this summer to improve as a coach, but knows the squad needs adding to as well.

And there is money available via the billionaire petrochemical trading owner Maxim Demin — even more so after Deloitte’s eye-watering revelations that Bournemouth will pocket £230million should they stay up.

‘The money argument irks me because it takes away from the players’ achievement,’ Howe said. ‘It’s almost like “Bournemouth have bought success”. Well, you tell me. Our net trading has been minimal compared to a lot of sides in the Championship.