Matthias Jaissle is the surprise favourite to become Newcastle head coach, and he would arrive with a strong recent record of success. Eddie Howe, 48, is set to leave St James’ Park after nearly five years in charge, and the former RB Salzburg boss — currently in charge of Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli — is now expected to come in. Nothing has been confirmed by either club, but the 38-year-old German carries a CV that helps explain why the Magpies are said to be looking beyond the usual Premier League names.
Who is Matthias Jaissle?
Matthias Jaissle is a 38-year-old German coach who played as a centre-half before moving into management unusually early. He belongs to the wave of German coaches raised on high pressing, aggressive ball recovery and fast vertical transitions rather than slow possession.
The headline detail for English audiences is his link to Thomas Tuchel: Jaissle played under the current England head coach in the early stages of Tuchel’s career, long before the Chelsea Champions League win and the England job.
No move has been announced. Newcastle have not confirmed a successor to Howe, and Al-Ahli have not confirmed a departure, so this remains a strongly reported frontrunner rather than a done deal.
A winning record at Salzburg and Al-Ahli
At RB Salzburg between 2021 and 2023, Jaissle won two Austrian league titles and two Austrian Cups, and took the club to the Champions League last 16 in 2021-22 with one of the youngest squads in the competition.
He then moved to Al-Ahli, where he delivered the biggest trophy in the club’s history by winning the AFC Champions League Elite in 2025, working with a squad including Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez.
That combination matters for Newcastle: a coach who has developed young players in a selling-club model and then managed a dressing room of established international names under immediate win-now pressure.
What he would inherit from Eddie Howe
Howe took charge in November 2021 as Steve Bruce’s replacement, with Newcastle in the relegation zone. He kept them up, returned them to the Champions League and ended a 70-year wait for domestic silverware by winning the Carabao Cup in 2025.
That means the incoming coach is not being asked to rebuild from the bottom. He inherits a squad built around established Premier League performers, a full stadium every week and a fanbase that has now tasted a trophy and expects more.
The flip side is expectation. Following the most successful Newcastle manager in decades leaves very little grace period, particularly with the club’s ownership targeting sustained European qualification.
Would his style work in the Premier League?
Jaissle’s teams press high, defend with a compressed line and attack quickly through the middle after winning the ball. On paper that suits the Premier League’s tempo, and it is not far from the front-foot approach Newcastle already play.
The obvious question is level. Jaissle has never managed in one of Europe’s big five leagues, and the step up from the Austrian Bundesliga and the Saudi Pro League to a 38-game Premier League season plus cup football is significant.
Squad depth and injury management would be the first real test. High-pressing systems demand relentless physical output, and Newcastle’s schedule offers far less recovery time than either of his previous jobs.
What happens next
Until Newcastle make an announcement, Jaissle’s appointment should be treated as reported rather than confirmed. Al-Ahli would also need to agree terms on releasing a coach who has just delivered continental success.
If it goes through, it would be one of the boldest managerial appointments in the Premier League in recent seasons: a 38-year-old with no top-five league experience taking one of English football’s biggest jobs.
For Newcastle, the logic is clear enough. They are betting on trajectory — a coach who has won something everywhere he has been, and who is young enough to grow with the project.
FAQ
Has Matthias Jaissle been confirmed as Newcastle head coach?
No. He is reportedly the surprise favourite to replace Eddie Howe, but neither Newcastle nor Al-Ahli have officially announced anything.
How does Matthias Jaissle know Thomas Tuchel?
Jaissle played under Tuchel early in the current England head coach’s career, before Tuchel went on to manage Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
What has Matthias Jaissle won as a manager?
Two Austrian league titles and two Austrian Cups with RB Salzburg, plus the AFC Champions League Elite in 2025 with Al-Ahli.
Why is Eddie Howe leaving Newcastle?
Howe is set to leave after nearly five years in charge. He took over in November 2021 from Steve Bruce and won the 2025 Carabao Cup, the club’s first domestic trophy in 70 years.
Has Jaissle managed in the Premier League before?
No. His senior managerial career has been in Austria with RB Salzburg and in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, which is why the move would be seen as a bold appointment.
🏆 AI Analysis – World Cup 2026
Mysports AI uses advanced data models to deliver the best odds, dark horse analysis and betting tips.
Get predictions