Newcastle names Al Ahli's Jaissle as Howe replacement

Newcastle United appointed Matthias Jaissle as manager on Wednesday following the departure of Eddie Howe, with the German coach joining the squad at its preseason training camp in La Manga, Spain.

Jaissle was previously manager of Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli, leading it to back-to-back AFC Champions League titles.

"It is an incredible honor to become head coach of Newcastle United. This is one of the biggest clubs in European football, with a unique history, identity and supporter base, and I am excited to experience that passion and connection firsthand," Jaissle said in a statement.

"When Newcastle United comes your way, you take notice. The ambition of the club, the vision for the future and the opportunity ahead made this an incredibly compelling place to be."

Jaissle succeeds Howe, who stepped down after nearly five years in charge, despite leading Newcastle to its first major domestic trophy in 70 years with the 2025 League Cup and qualifying the club for the Champions League twice.

Howe's departure on July 31 came amid a turbulent period for the club, which finished a disappointing 12th in the Premier League last season and recently lost key players Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, while Arsenal reportedly agreed a deal on Wednesday to sign Magpies captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Jaissle arrives at Newcastle United with a growing reputation as a top young manager — and an enormous task.

At 38, he is regarded as one of Europe's brightest young coaches.

The former centerback's success with Red Bull Salzburg and Al Ahli earned him admirers across the game. After leading Salzburg to successive Austrian Bundesliga titles in 2022 and 2023, he joined Al Ahli.

With Al Ahli and Newcastle both owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund — he is considered to be a progressive, front-foot manager capable of reigniting Newcastle's stalled momentum.

But Jaissle will inherit a club in turmoil.

Howe's departure was a major blow for supporters, who watched him transform Newcastle from relegation candidates into Champions League qualifiers.

And few managers have enjoyed a stronger bond with the St James' Park faithful. He rebuilt the club's identity, improved players across the squad and restored belief on Tyneside.

His exit leaves a void that will not be easy to fill.

Attacking game

Jaissle's credentials, however, are impressive. His teams are built on aggressive pressing, fast transitions and attacking soccer. He has shown a willingness to trust young players and has developed a reputation for creating energetic, highly organized sides capable of overwhelming opponents.

Newcastle will hope those qualities can help reverse a worrying decline.

The scale of the rebuild is stark. Alexander Isak departed for Liverpool last summer in a British-record 125 million-pound ($168 million) deal.

Newcastle lost more key players this summer, with Tonali joining Tottenham Hotspur and Gordon moving to Barcelona before Guimaraes' reported move to Arsenal.

Howe's departure came after Newcastle missed out on European soccer for the upcoming season, and its preparations for the new campaign suffered another setback with a 4-1 preseason defeat to Championship side Bristol City last week.

Against that backdrop, Jaissle has little time to ease into the role. Replacing a successful manager is difficult enough. Replacing a popular one can be even harder.

For Newcastle's hierarchy, however, the appointment represents a bold statement. It remains determined to establish the club among the Premier League elite and believes Jaissle's modern approach can help deliver that ambition.

Whether he can restore momentum to a club that appears to have lost its way is the question that will define Newcastle's season.

Jaissle will get his first chance to provide an answer on Aug 23, when his tenure begins with a daunting home clash against 2024-25 league champion Liverpool.