Eddie Howe Set to Leave Newcastle United, Matthias Jaissle Poised to Take Over

Eddie Howe will soon step down as head coach of Newcastle United. Matthias Jaissle from Al Ahli is expected to succeed him. Howe, who decided to stay at St. James’ Park at the end of last season, has opted for a change and will leave in the coming days after five years at the helm. The 48-year-old, who led Newcastle to their first trophy in 70 years with the 2025 Carabao Cup win, has informed the club of his wish to take a break from football.

The transition is smooth and Newcastle is prepared for Howe’s departure, with discussions between Jaissle and the club already advanced. Jaissle, 38, is a two-time Asian Champions League winner with Al Ahli. Both Newcastle and Al Ahli are largely owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The German coach, a former Hoffenheim player, previously led Red Bull Salzburg to consecutive Austrian Bundesliga titles and the Austrian Cup.

Joining Al Ahli in 2023, Jaissle guided them to back-to-back Asian Champions League victories in 2025 and 2026, employing a high-intensity, attacking strategy. His accomplishments underscore his reputation as a promising coach.

Howe’s impact on Newcastle has been monumental. His efforts in saving the team from relegation and securing Champions League qualification are noteworthy. During his tenure, they also won the Carabao Cup.

Howe became head coach in November 2021, replacing Steve Bruce. Newcastle was 19th in the Premier League then, soon after PIF’s consortium took control of the club. He guided them to safety and, later, Champions League qualification with a fourth-place finish in the 2022-23 season. Two seasons later, Newcastle secured a top-five position and their first major domestic trophy since 1955 by beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

Last season presented a challenge with Newcastle finishing 12th in the Premier League. They exited the Champions League at the last-16 stage, losing to Barcelona 8-3 on aggregate. From January 7, the team won only five of 17 league matches, which put Howe’s role under scrutiny. Despite this, Howe remained as head coach after discussions with club leaders, including a 25-member PIF delegation, in their annual Northumberland meeting. The dialogue recognized the season’s shortcomings but agreed Howe should continue.

This summer, Newcastle experienced a turbulent transfer window. They sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £69.3 million ($92.5 million) and £100 million, respectively. They also face interest from Arsenal in Bruno Guimaraes, who desires a move to the Premier League champions.

Before his time at Newcastle, Howe led Bournemouth during two separate terms, with a stint at Burnley in between.

Howe’s legacy at Newcastle is significant. He steered the club from relegation to success, achieving feats that many before him could not. His departure marks the end of an era and leaves the club changed forever.

Who is Matthias Jaissle?

Matthias Jaissle never planned on becoming a coach. As a player, he was a center-back, and by 18, signed from Stuttgart by Ralf Rangnick, he played for Hoffenheim. He was part of Hoffenheim’s rise through the leagues to Bundesliga promotion in 2008. However, an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2009 halted his playing career. He retired at 26, but Rangnick, then head of sport at RB Leipzig, brought him into a trainee program within the club’s youth sector.

Jaissle worked as assistant to current Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness, handling Leipzig’s under-16 team. In 2017, he became assistant to Alexander Zorniger at Brondby in the Danish Super Liga. By 2019, he returned to the Red Bull organization, coaching Salzburg’s under-18s. A series of fortunate events saw him take over as head coach of FC Liefering, then move to Salzburg to replace Jesse Marsch when the latter left for Leipzig.

Jaissle took charge of the Austrian champions at just 33. He promotes his players’ autonomy on the ball, within a framework backed by intense defensive strategies. “I want stress on the opponent as soon as possible,” he explains. “When we win the ball, I aim to attack swiftly.” His approach reflects Rangnick’s influence, although it comes naturally to players in the Red Bull system. Outside this environment, it presents a different challenge.