Big news out of Newcastle this week. Eddie Howe is on his way out and the club has already lined up his replacement in Matthias Jaissle. It’s the kind of story that’s been brewing for a while, but it’s still a shock to see it actually happen.
Howe’s run at Newcastle wasn’t perfect, but it was special. Nearly five years in charge, and he gave the club its first trophy in 70 years when they lifted the League Cup. He also got Newcastle into the Champions League twice, which felt unthinkable not too long ago. A lot of fans genuinely love this guy, so this isn’t an easy goodbye.
So why now? This summer hasn’t been kind to Newcastle. They’ve already lost Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, and there’s chatter that Bruno Guimaraes could be next out the door. Reports suggest Howe simply needed a break after all the transfer headaches piling up. It sounds less like a falling-out and more like burnout finally catching up with him.
Enter Matthias Jaissle. He’s just 38, currently managing Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, a club owned by the same group that owns Newcastle. So in a way, this stays in the family. He’s not exactly a household name yet, but he’s clearly done something right, back to back league titles with Al Ahli in 2025 and 2026 will get you noticed.
His path here is an interesting one too. He spent his playing days mostly in Germany with Hoffenheim, then pivoted into coaching. He cut his teeth as an assistant at Brøndby before taking the reins at RB Salzburg. Now he’s stepping into one of the toughest jobs in world football.
Not everyone’s sold on the move. Some think Jaissle is taking a step backward leaving Al Ahli, and a few worry this could push even more players toward the exit. But from what’s being reported, Jaissle’s fully bought in and he has already had conversations about Newcastle’s transfer plans and seems genuinely excited about where the club is headed. Whether that excitement turns into results is the big question heading into next season.
