Newcastle seek Eddie Howe’s successor as Matthias Jaissle emerges as candidate
Newcastle have wasted little time identifying Eddie Howe’s potential successor after the shock news of his departure, with Matthias Jaissle emerging as the leading candidate to take charge at St James’ Park, reports BritPanorama.
The Magpies were rocked on Thursday morning when news broke that Howe’s four-and-a-half year reign had come to an end, less than 24 hours after a heavy 4-1 pre-season defeat to Bristol City.
Attention has now turned to Jaissle, the highly-rated German coach currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
With both Newcastle and Al-Ahli majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the 38-year-old has already held talks with the club’s hierarchy over the vacancy.
Despite his age, Jaissle has rapidly established himself as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches, building an impressive CV in just a handful of years. His managerial journey began in January 2021 when he was appointed by Austrian second-tier side Liefering, steering the club to second place and matching the highest league finish in their history.
His work attracted attention from Austrian giants RB Salzburg, who handed him the reins that summer following Jesse Marsch’s departure. Jaissle quickly made a big impact, guiding Salzburg to a domestic double in his first season, lifting both the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup while also leading the club into the Champions League knockout stages for the first time.
Another league title followed the next campaign before Salzburg dismissed him just before the start of the 2023-24 season, a setback that proved temporary. Al-Ahli quickly appointed the German on a three-year deal, where he enjoyed even greater success, winning the Asian Champions League for the first time in their history and successfully defending the title the following season.
Working with a squad featuring Premier League names including Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy, Jaissle has enhanced his reputation as one of football’s most exciting young tacticians. Interestingly, management was never part of his original plan. Jaissle, who was regarded as one of Germany’s promising young defenders, faced a career-altering anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2009 that prevented him from fulfilling his potential as a player.
Reflecting on that setback, he noted, “My knee injury was a shock. Probably the only advantage of it was that I could start management earlier. I am still young for a coach but have quite good experience already.”
His route into coaching came thanks to Ralf Rangnick, who invited him onto RB Leipzig’s coaching development programme after recognizing his football intelligence. Jaissle has cited coaches like Rangnick and Thomas Tuchel as influences while drawing inspiration from the philosophies of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.
Should Newcastle complete the appointment, Jaissle would inherit one of the Premier League’s toughest jobs. The departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have already transformed the club’s outlook, while captain Bruno Guimaraes continues to be linked with an exit. How he fares, once the appointment is officially confirmed, remains to be seen.
In a league where expectations are high and patience is often thin, a successful transition for Jaissle may hinge on how quickly he can adapt his style and philosophy to fit the unique challenges of English football.
