Matthias Jaissle is the leading candidate to take over from Eddie Howe as the manager of Newcastle, with the new Premier League season just three weeks away.
Howe is set to depart from his position as head coach of the Magpies after a five-year tenure, as the 48-year-old English manager intends to take a break from football. In their recent pre-season match, Newcastle suffered a 4-1 defeat against Bristol City.
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Howe leaves the club with significant accolades, including leading Newcastle to its first major trophy in over 70 years by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup, as well as reaching the Champions League last-16 stage last season.
As reported by The Athletic, Howe is likely to be succeeded by the relatively unknown German coach Jaissle, who will need to quickly adapt with only 24 days remaining before the season opener against Liverpool at St James’ Park.
Who is Matthias Jaissle?
The 38-year-old German coach has celebrated two Asian Champions League victories with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, which is majority-owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, just like Newcastle.
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Jaissle has managed Al-Ahli—featuring players like Ivan Toney and Edouard Mendy—since 2023 and added the Saudi Super Cup to his accolades in 2025.
Before his stint in Saudi Arabia, he coached Red Bull Salzburg for two years, claiming back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles and the Austrian Cup after succeeding former Leeds manager Jesse Marsch. He also guided Salzburg to the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Jaissle earned the Salzburg role just four months after leading Liefering to a second-place finish in Austria’s second tier, following a previous coaching stint at Salzburg’s Under-18 academy team.
Jaissle, 38, has coached Al Ahli since 2023 (Getty)
Jaissle had a modest career as a player, serving as a center-back for Hoffenheim for seven years but making only 68 league appearances due to an ACL injury that led to his early retirement at 25. He also represented Germany at the Under-21 level.
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He began his career in the youth ranks at VfB Stuttgart, where he was mentored by Thomas Tuchel, with whom he shares a close relationship. This connection is thought to have played a role in Toney’s inclusion in the England World Cup squad.
Jaissle emphasizes a high-intensity, attacking style of play, with a coaching philosophy shaped by his experience within the Red Bull system, citing Ralf Rangnick as an inspiration.
In a January interview, he stated, “My goal is to apply pressure on the opponent as soon as possible. Once we regain possession, we aim to transition quickly toward the opponent’s goal. I’m very vertical in that approach.”
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Why has Newcastle chosen him?
The connection lies in the shared ownership of Newcastle and Al Ahli by the PIF.
Jaissle has cultivated a solid reputation as one of the top young coaches globally, having won numerous trophies and achieved success across his managerial roles. His impressive time with RB Salzburg preceded his move to Saudi Arabia, where he became the first coach to win consecutive Asian Champions League titles.
This appointment marks a notable shift for Newcastle, transitioning from their recent English coaches, including Howe, Graeme Jones (interim), and Steve Bruce. It’s also significant as it marks the first time a German has managed Newcastle and the third non-British/Irish coach in the club’s history.
Newcastle will next compete on Saturday, August 8, in a friendly match against Valencia, followed by their final warm-up games against Everton, Bayer Leverkusen, and Strasbourg.
Jaissle previously led Red Bull Salzburg to consecutive Austrian Bundesliga titles (Getty)