Matthias Jaissle Set to Replace Eddie Howe as Newcastle United Head Coach

Eddie Howe is leaving his role as Newcastle United’s head coach, with Matthias Jaissle from Al Ahli set to take over. Howe, who decided to stay at the club last season, has now chosen to step down after five years in charge. He guided Newcastle to their first trophy in 70 years, winning the 2025 Carabao Cup, and has informed the club of his desire to take a break from football. The departure is amicable, and Newcastle is prepared with advanced talks already in place with Jaissle.

Matthias Jaissle, 38, has won two Asian Champions League titles with Al Ahli, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also has a stake in Newcastle. His coaching career includes success with Red Bull Salzburg, where he won two Austrian Bundesliga titles and the Austrian Cup. Since joining Al Ahli in 2023, he has led them to successive Asian Champions League victories in 2025 and 2026.

Howe was appointed after Newcastle’s takeover by PIF in November 2021, succeeding Steve Bruce. He initially ensured the club’s Premier League safety and oversaw their qualification for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish in the 2022-23 season. Howe also led Newcastle to a top-five finish two seasons later, securing a domestic trophy with a win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

However, Newcastle’s performance declined, finishing 12th in the Premier League and exiting the Champions League at the last-16 stage against Barcelona. From January 7 onwards, results were poor, with only five wins from 17 league games, putting Howe’s position under scrutiny. Despite this, Howe remained in charge after discussions with club officials, including PIF delegates, at Matfen Hall in Northumberland.

This summer, Newcastle has experienced a turbulent transfer period, selling Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for significant fees. Arsenal has shown interest in Bruno Guimaraes, creating uncertainty at the club. Howe was considered a club legend for his contributions, leading Newcastle out of relegation danger and achieving notable successes.

Newcastle now faces a challenging period as they prepare for their opening match against Liverpool in a few weeks, adjusting to a new head coach. The departure of Howe has raised questions about the club’s future direction and the project’s integrity.

Jaissle’s Background

Matthias Jaissle’s path to coaching was unexpected. Initially a promising centre-back, he played for Hoffenheim, aided by then-manager Ralf Rangnick. However, an ACL injury in 2009 cut short his playing career. Jaissle transitioned to coaching, thanks to Rangnick’s influence, training within Red Bull’s youth system. He assisted Sebastian Hoeness at Leipzig and later joined Brondby in Denmark as an assistant coach.

In 2019, he returned to Red Bull to lead Salzburg’s under-18s. By 2021, he replaced Bo Svensson at FC Liefering and soon succeeded Jesse Marsch at Salzburg, becoming head coach of the Austrian champions at age 33. Jaissle emphasizes quick, vertical attacking play with intense defensive pressure. His coaching style is heavily influenced by Rangnick but requires adaptation outside the Red Bull network.