Matthias Jaissle in line to replace Eddie Howe as Newcastle United manager after shock departure

Newcastle United are set to appoint Al-Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle as their new manager after Eddie Howe told the club he wanted to step down just weeks before the new Premier League season.

Howe, 48, is understood to have informed the Newcastle hierarchy earlier in July that he wished to leave his role and take a break from football, having grown frustrated with the club’s transfer strategy and come under scrutiny from the Saudi-led ownership following a disappointing campaign.

The club persuaded him to remain in post while they identified a successor and have moved quickly towards an agreement with 38-year-old German coach Jaissle, who would be an unexpected choice given his limited experience in Europe’s top leagues.

Howe’s exit leaves Newcastle facing major uncertainty less than a month before they open their Premier League campaign at home to Liverpool on 23 August.

Howe exits after mixed final season

Howe’s position had become increasingly delicate after Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season, losing 17 of their 38 matches. His task was complicated by the prolonged transfer saga involving star striker Alexander Isak, whose drawn-out move to Liverpool unsettled the squad during the run-in.

Newcastle did reach the Champions League last 16 but were heavily beaten 8-3 on aggregate by Barcelona, a result that further dented confidence in the direction of the team.

The squad has since been weakened by high-profile departures. Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has joined Tottenham, while England forward Anthony Gordon has moved to Barcelona. There is also ongoing speculation over captain Bruno Guimaraes, who has been linked with Premier League champions Arsenal, adding to the sense of instability.

Howe’s final match in charge was a 4-1 defeat by Championship side Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday, underlining the scale of the turnaround required before the new campaign begins.

Jaissle’s rapid rise

Jaissle, a former Germany Under-21 international defender, was forced to retire at 25 because of injury before moving into coaching. His first senior managerial role came at Austrian side Liefering, whom he guided to second place in the second tier – equalling the club’s best-ever league finish.

He stepped up to RB Salzburg in 2021 and enjoyed immediate success, winning back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles as well as the Austrian Cup.

In 2023, Jaissle took over at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, where he delivered major continental success with consecutive AFC Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026. Those achievements have impressed Newcastle’s ownership group, who are now pushing to bring him to St James’ Park as Howe’s replacement.

If appointed, Jaissle would be taking on his first job in English football and his first role in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Howe’s legacy at St James’ Park

Howe leaves with his reputation enhanced despite failing to deliver the owners’ most ambitious target of a Premier League title within 10 years of their 2021 takeover.

Appointed in November 2021 shortly after the Saudi-led consortium ended Mike Ashley’s turbulent ownership, Howe inherited a side sitting second from bottom of the Premier League, five points from safety. He steered Newcastle to a comfortable mid-table finish that season, laying the foundations for a rapid transformation.

Under the former Bournemouth manager, Newcastle shed their image as a struggling, directionless club and re-established themselves as a major force. Howe guided the team to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025, marking their return to Europe’s elite competition.

In March 2025, he ended the club’s long wait for silverware by winning the League Cup, with Newcastle defeating Liverpool in the final to secure their first major trophy since 1969.

Although he could not sustain that upward trajectory last season, Howe departs widely admired for revitalising the club on and off the pitch and for reconnecting the team with a fanbase that had endured years of frustration.

Newcastle must now complete a deal for Jaissle and oversee a swift transition as they attempt to stabilise the squad and realign their ambitions ahead of the new Premier League season.