Eddie Howe’s Departure and Matthias Jaissle’s Arrival at Newcastle United

Eddie Howe is concluding his tenure as Newcastle United head coach with Matthias Jaissle, currently of Al Ahli, ready to step into his shoes. Howe, who decided to stay at St. James’ Park after the previous season, has changed his mind and plans to take a break from football after five years in charge.

The 48-year-old achieved significant success, leading Newcastle to their first trophy in 70 years by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup. Despite his accomplishments, Howe has informed the club of his intention to step down amicably. The club is prepared for this transition, with advanced discussions between Newcastle and Jaissle.

Jaissle, aged 38, has a notable track record, having twice won the Asian Champions League with Al Ahli. Like Newcastle, Al Ahli is majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Jaissle’s coaching pedigree includes a successful stint at Red Bull Salzburg, winning consecutive Austrian Bundesliga titles and the Austrian Cup. His tenure at Al Ahli began in 2023, showcasing high-intensity, attacking football that led to two Asian Champions League victories in 2025 and 2026.

Howe assumed the Newcastle head coach role in November 2021, succeeding Steve Bruce. At the time, Newcastle was 19th in the Premier League, shortly after the club’s takeover by a PIF-led consortium. Howe initially secured Premier League safety and achieved Champions League qualification with a fourth-place finish in the 2022-23 season. He guided the club to their first major domestic trophy since 1955 by defeating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

However, Newcastle’s performance declined last season. They ended up 12th in the Premier League and were eliminated from the Champions League’s last-16 stage by Barcelona, with an 8-3 aggregate defeat. From January onwards, Newcastle won only five of their 17 league matches, heightening scrutiny on Howe’s position.

Howe continued as Newcastle’s coach following high-level discussions at Matfen Hall in Northumberland. During these meetings, involving a delegation from PIF, all parties recognized the previous season’s inadequacies but agreed on Howe’s leadership continuity.

The transfer market has been challenging for Newcastle this summer. The club has sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £69.3 million ($92.5 million) and £100 million, respectively. Arsenal’s interest in Bruno Guimaraes, who seeks to join the Premier League champions, adds to the uncertainty.

A statement from Newcastle United writer George Caulkin praises Howe’s achievements: ‘Howe will forever be considered a club legend.’

Despite unexpected changes, Howe’s departure reflects the end of an era, leaving Newcastle amid transformation.

Reflecting on Matthias Jaissle’s Journey

Matthias Jaissle’s path to coaching was unexpected. A former centre-back, he played for Hoffenheim after being signed by Stuttgart’s then-manager Ralf Rangnick. His career included a promotion to the Bundesliga and international duty with Germany’s Under-21 team until an ACL injury led to retirement at 26. Rangnick, then RB Leipzig’s head of sport, offered Jaissle a place in their youth department trainee program.

He assisted on Leipzig’s under-16 side before joining Brondby as Alexander Zorniger’s assistant. By 2019, Jaissle returned to the Red Bull network, becoming head coach of Salzburg’s under-18s. After several opportunities, Jaissle became Salzburg’s head coach at 33, winning multiple titles.

Jaissle promotes player agency in possession and emphasizes intense defensive work. ‘I want stress on the opponent as soon as possible,’ he explains, focusing on swift transition to attack. His coaching style, influenced by Rangnick, thrives in the Red Bull system but faces different environments elsewhere.