Newcastle appoint Jaissle as head coach after Howe

Newcastle United have appointed Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach, replacing Eddie Howe. The German has signed a four-year deal after Newcastle paid £9.5m compensation to Saudi club Al Ahli. Jaissle takes charge of his first match, a pre-season friendly against Valencia, next Saturday.

Newcastle United appoint Matthias Jaissle as head coach following Eddie Howe's departure

Newcastle United have named Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach. He replaces Eddie Howe, who left St James' Park after resigning from the role.

Jaissle has signed a four-year contract with the club. Newcastle paid £9.5m in compensation to Al Ahli, the Saudi Pro League side he leaves behind, to secure his appointment.

Main details

The 38-year-old has already linked up with his new squad. He travelled with the players to their pre-season training base and has been working with them since the weekend.

His first game in charge comes next Saturday, when Newcastle face Valencia in a pre-season friendly. It will be his first taste of management at a top European club.

Al Ahli held up the paperwork needed to release Jaissle from his contract, which delayed the announcement by a few days. That issue has now been resolved and the move is confirmed.

Background

Jaissle made his name at Red Bull Salzburg, where he won back-to-back Austrian league titles. He also picked up a domestic double in his first season there.

He moved to Al Ahli in 2023 and built on that success, winning the Asian Champions League in successive seasons. That run made him one of the most talked-about young coaches outside Europe.

Howe leaves Newcastle after almost five years at the club. He took over in November 2021, not long after the Saudi-backed takeover, and helped pull the team away from relegation trouble. Under him, Newcastle returned to the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup, their first major trophy in 70 years.

His exit comes at a difficult moment for the club. Newcastle have also lost Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer, with Bruno Guimarães's future also in question.

What happens next

Jaissle is set to speak to the media later this week, once the squad settle into their training camp. That should give supporters their first proper look at how he plans to set up the team.

Newcastle open their Premier League season against Liverpool at St James' Park, with just over two weeks left before that game. Getting Jaissle and his staff up to speed quickly will be a priority.

What he's said

Jaissle said the chance to join Newcastle was too good to turn down: "The ambition of the club, the vision for the future and the opportunity ahead made this an incredibly compelling place to be."

Club chief executive David Hopkinson said the search for Howe's successor had been thorough. He added that Jaissle's track record and leadership qualities made him "an exceptional fit for Newcastle United."

Closing

Jaissle's appointment marks a change in direction for Newcastle after nearly five years under Howe. With pre-season underway and the new campaign close, he has little time to settle in before facing Liverpool on the opening weekend.