Matthias Jaissle has emerged as the unexpected front-runner to replace Eddie Howe as Newcastle’s head coach, bringing with him an impressive recent track record.
Howe, 48, is set to depart St James’ Park after nearly five years in charge. Appointed in November 2021 following Steve Bruce, he guided the Magpies to their first domestic silverware in 70 years by winning the Carabao Cup in 2025.
Jaissle, formerly of RB Salzburg and now leading Saudi side Al-Ahli, is widely tipped to step in. The 38-year-old German is a former centre-back who came through Stuttgart’s academy and played for Hoffenheim from 2007 to 2014. A Germany Under-21 international, he retired at 25 due to injury.
He began coaching as Brondby’s assistant from 2017 to 2019, then took charge of RB Salzburg’s Under-18s before his first senior role at Liefering, where he achieved a joint club-best second-place finish. That success led to his appointment at RB Salzburg in 2021, succeeding Jesse Marsch. Over two seasons he won the Austrian Bundesliga twice and the Austrian Cup once. His squad featured talents such as Benjamin Sesko and Brenden Aaronson, now in the Premier League with Manchester United and Leeds United respectively, and Karim Adeyemi, currently at Barcelona.
Since joining Al-Ahli in 2023, Jaissle has delivered back-to-back Asian Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026—achievements likely to appeal to Newcastle’s Saudi ownership should Howe depart. Supporters can expect high-intensity, front-foot football under Jaissle, with an emphasis on pressing aggressively and winning the ball high up the pitch.