Newcastle United have confirmed the appointment of Matthias Jaissle as the club’s new head coach, with the 38-year-old German succeeding Eddie Howe at St. James’ Park.
Jaissle joins the Premier League side after a successful spell with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, becoming the latest manager entrusted with leading Newcastle into a new era.
Expressing his excitement after the announcement, Jaissle described the appointment as one of the greatest moments of his coaching career.
“It is an incredible honour 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. The ambition of the club and its vision for the future made this an opportunity I couldn’t ignore,” he said.
Rapid Rise in Coaching
Jaissle’s playing career ended prematurely at the age of 25 due to injury, prompting an early transition into coaching.
He began his managerial career with Austrian side Liefering, guiding the club to a second-place finish in the second division—matching its best-ever league performance.
In 2021, he took charge of Red Bull Salzburg, where he won back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles and lifted the Austrian Cup.
He moved to Al-Ahli in 2023 and further enhanced his reputation by leading the Saudi club to consecutive AFC Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026.
Big Task at St. James’ Park
Jaissle inherits a Newcastle side looking to recover from a disappointing 2025/26 campaign that saw the Magpies finish 12th in the Premier League after losing 17 of their 38 matches.
The club also exited the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16 following an 8-3 aggregate defeat to Barcelona.
Newcastle’s squad has also been weakened during the summer transfer window, with Sandro Tonali joining Tottenham Hotspur and Anthony Gordon completing a move to Barcelona.
Club chief executive David Hopkinson said Jaissle emerged as the standout candidate after an extensive recruitment process.
“Matthias is one of the most exciting and highly regarded young coaches in football. He possesses all the qualities we were looking for, and we’re delighted to welcome him to Newcastle United,” Hopkinson said.
Jaissle now faces the challenge of rebuilding the squad and restoring Newcastle’s push for European qualification after succeeding Howe, who transformed the club during his five-year tenure.
Under Howe, Newcastle returned to the UEFA Champions League twice and ended a decades-long wait for silverware by defeating Liverpool to win the League Cup in 2025—lifting the club’s first major trophy since 1969.
The Magpies will begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign at home against Liverpool on August 23, with Jaissle expressing confidence in the club’s future.
“I fully believe in this project, the ambition and the direction the club is taking. There is a clear vision, strong leadership and an exceptional platform to build on,” the new Newcastle boss added.