A new head-coach for the Magpies: Matthias Jaissle

Newcastle United announced Matthias Jaissle as the successor for the departing Eddie Howe on 5th August, 2026. The 38-year-old German manager joins the club from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli on a long-term contract, set to run until June 2030. Newcastle United also paid Al-Ahli a reported compensation package of £9.5 million for the German manager. 

Eddie Howe had a successful five-year tenure with the Magpies, helping them win a trophy (League Cup 2024/25) after four decades and also helped them qualify for the Champions League twice. However, last season was a disappointing one as the Geordies ended the season in 12th place, got humiliated 8-3 on aggregate by Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16 and ended the season outside of European spots. Although the Newcastle management still showed support for Howe, the Englishman decided to step down amidst conflict over sale of key players. After several deliberations, Newcastle United onboarded Matthias Jaissle as the new head-coach. 

Below we look at his football career, coaching career, tactics and philosophy, and what can be expected from Tyneside’s new head-coach – 

Football Career 

Matthias Jaissle is a former German professional player who played as a central defender. He started his career as a youth player for TSV Neckartailfingen. He transferred to the VfB Stuttgart youth academy in 2001. It was here that he spent his developmental years before moving on to TSG Hoffenheim in 2007. He also won the Bundesliga U-17 title in 2003/04 with VfB Stuttgart. Jaissle helped Hoffenheim to back-to-back promotions, eventually qualifying for the first division of German football – the Bundesliga. Unfortunately, Jaissle had to retire at the age of 25 due to persistently severe knee injuries, calling curtains on a short professional career. 

Coaching career

Matthias Jaissle started his coaching career at Danish club Brøndby IF as an assistant coach in April 2017. His first big coaching job came at FC Liefering in 2021 after the departure of head-coach Bo Svensson. FC Liefering is the reserve team for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. 

The next season saw him succeed outgoing coach Jesse Marsch at Red Bull Salzburg. He was at Salzburg for three seasons, helping them to a domestic double – the League title and the Austrian Cup in his first season. He helped them successfully defend the league title and also helped them to their first-ever knockout-stage in the UEFA Champions League in the following season. His last coaching job was at the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli where he tenured for three seasons before joining Newcastle United. He helped them to the AFC Champions league title (2024/25) in his second season along with the Saudi Super Cup. In May 2026, he won his most recent silverware with Al-Ahli, helping them win the AFC Champions League again by defeating Japanese club Machiva Zeldia 1-0 in extra-time in the final. In doing so, Jaissle became the first-ever manager to win back-to-back AFC Champions League titles. 

Tactics and Philosophy 

Jaissle has quickly risen through the ranks as a coach and plays an attractive and aggressive brand of football. His coaching influences are Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Pep Guardiola and Roberto de Zerbi. Jaissle doesn’t believe in a particular formation but prefers flexibility depending on the opposition and the tactics. 

In Austria, he played a 4-4-2  formation which converted into a 4-3-1-2 out of possession.  This formation enabled his team to maintain defensive solidity while also leading to rapid ball progression in case of turnovers high up the pitch. His teams are known to be front-footed, aggressive and high-pressing sides. 

At Al-Ahli, his team would predominantly play a 4-2-3-1 formation but would convert into a 3-2-5 out of possession. However, Jaissle hasn’t been stubborn when it comes to formation and tactics and is a highly adaptable coach. He worked with some high-quality players at Al-Ahli but he is also known to be good with youth players, having developed a number of talents at Salzburg like Brenden Aaronson, Noah Okafor, Benjamin Sesko and Karim Adeyemi. 

What can be expected from Matthias Jaissle 

Looking at his coaching career so far, the 38-year-old seems like a decent appointment for Newcastle United. With Eddie Howe and his nucleus of key players like Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimarães departing, Jaissle will have a major rebuild to perform at Newcastle United. Though he is another young coach like Howe, he is a very animated character on the sidelines and could ruffle a few feathers. We believe he is exactly the kind of personality that could be accepted well at St. James’ Park by the passionate Newcastle faithful. However, they need to keep faith and patience as he will require to manage expectations amidst a major squad overhaul. 

There is no doubt that Newcastle United will be in a transitional phase with new players replacing the outgoing ones. Jaissle could bring aggressive, high-energy and entertaining football back to St. James’ Park if he is supported well by the management. Although the Premier League is a huge step-up for the German coach, he has shown a consistent winning mentality while managing young players at RB Salzburg as well as superstars at Al-Ahli. 

With a lack of availability of top managerial options, this could prove to be a shrewd appointment by Newcastle’s management. Jaissle’s first priority would be to help the club finish inside the top half of the table and reclaim a European spot next season, but to make that happen, he will need strong backing from the club in the transfer market.