Eddie Howe to Leave Newcastle: Matthias Jaissle Set to Replace Him

Eddie Howe’s Departure from Newcastle

Eddie Howe is set to leave his role as head coach of Newcastle United. Matthias Jaissle from Al Ahli is poised to take over. Howe had initially decided to stay at St. James’ Park at the end of last season but has since changed his mind. He plans to step away in the coming days after five years at the helm. The 48-year-old, who clinched Newcastle’s first trophy in 70 years with the Carabao Cup win in 2025, expressed his desire to take a break from football. His departure is amicable, and Newcastle is prepared for the transition with talks between the club and Jaissle in the advanced stages.

Matthias Jaissle’s Track Record

Matthias Jaissle, 38, has an impressive track record. As a coach, he claimed two Asian Champions League titles with Al Ahli. This success mirrors Newcastle’s ownership, as both clubs are majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Jaissle’s history as a player includes his entire career with Hoffenheim. In coaching, he made a mark with Red Bull Salzburg by winning consecutive Austrian Bundesliga titles and the Austrian Cup. Al Ahli have also triumphed under his leadership in the Asian Champions League, featuring a high-intensity, attacking style.

Howe’s Achievements and Challenges

Eddie Howe took over Newcastle in November 2021, replacing Steve Bruce when the club was 19th in the Premier League. This followed a takeover by PIF. Howe helped Newcastle avoid relegation and later secured Champions League qualification by finishing fourth in the league for the 2022-23 season, along with a top-five finish two seasons later. Newcastle’s Carabao Cup win over Liverpool marked their first major domestic success since 1955. However, recent performance issues saw Newcastle finishing 12th in the Premier League and exiting the Champions League in the last-16 stage with an 8-3 aggregate loss to Barcelona. From January, Newcastle managed only five wins in 17 league games, which placed Howe’s position under the spotlight.

Changes in Newcastle’s Squad

The club has faced turbulence this summer in the transfer market. They have sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur, deals worth £69.3 million and £100 million, respectively. Additionally, Arsenal is interested in Bruno Guimaraes, who wants to join the Premier League champions. Before his stint at Newcastle, Howe was with Bournemouth in two spells, separated by a year with Burnley.

Analysis by George Caulkin

Eddie Howe’s departure may appear shocking. While it follows a challenging season and summer, it completes a significant chapter. Howe transformed Newcastle, securing their first domestic trophy in 70 years and achieving goals that eluded predecessors. Though winning may not have culminated in ultimate satisfaction, Howe’s leadership brought essential achievements. These include guiding the club out of the relegation zone, reaching cup finals, and securing key player signings. Newcastle’s identity as an assertive, proud club was restored under him. His departure signals the end of an era, leaving Newcastle to define its future path.

Who is Matthias Jaissle?

Matthias Jaissle never planned to pursue coaching. He started as a center-back player and joined Hoffenheim at 18, participating in their rise to Bundesliga promotion. He also represented Germany Under-21 before a severe knee injury in 2009 curtailed his playing career, leading to retirement at 26. Encouraged by Ralf Rangnick at RB Leipzig, Jaissle entered a trainee program in their youth department. He later worked under Sebastian Hoeness with Leipzig’s under-16 team and assisted Alexander Zorniger at Brondby in Denmark. By 2019, Jaissle headed Salzburg’s under-18s and subsequently served as head coach for FC Liefering. This paved the way for his appointment as the head coach of Austrian champions, Salzburg, at 33.

Jaissle emphasizes player agency within structured play, supported by intense defense. He aims for rapid transitions upon regaining possession, a philosophy clearly influenced by Rangnick. But implementing such a style outside the Red Bull system offers unique challenges.