Newcastle United has appointed Matthias Jaissle, aged 38, to take the helm as their new head coach following Eddie Howe's exit last month. The name of the German coach was connected to the position just as rumors of Howe’s departure first emerged. Speaking on the club’s official site, Jaissle said, 'When Newcastle United comes to you, it’s hard to ignore. The club’s vision and ambition made this opportunity too compelling to turn down.'
A Rising Star in Coaching
Jaissle’s playing career was largely centered at Hoffenheim, where he played a role as a defender. After hanging up his boots, he launched his coaching career at Liefering in 2021. Shortly after, he was handed the reins at Red Bull Salzburg, where he made history by guiding the team to its first-ever Champions League knockout stage.
During his two seasons at Salzburg, he secured Austrian Bundesliga titles each year. His success continued with Al-Ahli, where he led the squad to back-to-back Asian Champions League Elite titles. Jaissle emphasized the values he brings to the role: 'I build teams around unity, hard work, and a passion for constant improvement. I will pour everything into helping this club reach its goals.'
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson confirmed that the hiring process was exhaustive and that Jaissle stood out as the top choice. He praised the coach’s leadership and drive, saying, 'He has a proven track record, and we believe he is ready to lead the club into a new chapter.' Ross Wilson, the club’s sporting director, echoed these sentiments, noting, 'Jaissle’s philosophy fits our vision. We felt the energy and commitment in every conversation during our talks.'
The new manager has expressed full belief in the club’s direction. 'There is a strong foundation in place, and the ambition here is something special,' he said. He added that the squad and the organization have untapped potential, and he’s eager to work with players and staff to realize that potential.
Jaissle’s first major task comes quickly, with four pre-season friendlies scheduled within the next 12 days. The matches are against high-profile opponents, including Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, and Strasbourg. The club will then open the Premier League season at home on August 23 against Liverpool in what could be a tough test.
The transition period also includes losing key players like Bruno Guimaraes, who is set to join Arsenal. Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have already been sold to Spurs and Barcelona, respectively. With these changes, Jaissle inherits a squad in motion, and the challenge of quickly adapting to a demanding new campaign ahead lies ahead for him and his team.
As a source said: 'It won't be easy to succeed Eddie Howe.' Just like Newcastle's moves to sign young players from the continent, there is an element of risk with this appointment as the club brings in a manager who has never coached in the Premier League before. He becomes the Premier League's second-youngest current head coach at 38 years old, and his first competitive game is against Liverpool on Sunday, 23 August. There has been no time to waste since he arrived at the club's pre-season training camp in Spain at the weekend. 'He will try to understand the culture and what Newcastle means to the community as soon as possible,' added a source. 'That's what he will live by.' Howe certainly set the standard, however last season was a bruising one domestically. The club now need a progressive manager to start a new cycle and build on what he did at the peak of his reign. Effectively, Jaissle's remit will be to develop players and outperform clubs with bigger wage bills - and the squad should expect him to be just as demanding as his predecessor in training. 'We did lots of small-sided games to keep the intensity high,' said former Salzburg midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic. 'If someone had not been giving it their all, he called them out on it. He isn't afraid to address things head-on.' He also brings with him a group of coaches and analysts who will look to quickly get his message across - Al-Ahli defender Merih Demiral knows that better than most. 'They paid great attention to every detail and always made sure we were fully prepared,' Demiral said. 'He has built a really strong team around him and they played a huge role in our success.'