Everything you need to know about Newcastle’s new manager

Newcastle United confirmed Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach after Eddie Howe stepped down after almost five years in charge. The 38-year-old German has signed a four-year deal, with Newcastle paying Al Ahli £9.5m to release him from his contract in Saudi Arabia.

Attention around the Premier League odds shows how closely Newcastle’s fixtures and chances are being followed. In this article, we look at Jaissle’s playing background, the jobs that got him here and the record he brings to Tyneside.

A playing career cut short at 25

Jaissle came through at Hoffenheim and won a cap for Germany at Under-21 level, but injury ended his playing days at 25. He moved into coaching almost straight away, spending time in Denmark before taking a role in Red Bull Salzburg’s academy setup.

His first senior job came as assistant manager at FC Liefering, Salzburg’s feeder club in the Austrian second tier, where he finished second and matched the club’s best league position. That was enough for Salzburg to hand him their first team in the summer of 2021.

Two titles and a Champions League breakthrough at Salzburg

In 2021, Jaissle took the Salzburg job, which made him one of the youngest managers in Austrian football at the time, at 33-years-old. He won the league and the domestic cup in his first season, then retained the title in his second. He also took Salzburg into the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in the club’s history.

Three years and two Asian titles at Al Ahli

Jaissle left for Al Ahli in 2023 on a three-year contract in the Saudi Pro League. When he joined, Al Ahli had just been promoted back to the first tier, and even led his team to a third-place finish in the league that season.

He won the AFC Champions League in 2025, beating Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 in the final, and again lifted the trophy again in 2026, along with the Saudi Super Cup.

Al Ahli were reluctant to lose him, which is why Newcastle had to pay compensation and why the paperwork took long enough to delay his arrival at the squad’s pre-season camp in La Manga.

The squad he has taken on

It’s been an unsettled summer at St James’ Park. Anthony Gordon has joined Barcelona for £69.3m, Sandro Tonali has moved to Tottenham Hotspur for £100m, and captain Bruno Guimaraes is set to follow after Arsenal agreed a £75m fee.

Jaissle is also following a manager who ended Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by winning the Carabao Cup in 2025 and qualified for the Champions League twice. Newcastle’s position in the football odds reflects a season of rebuilding rather than a title challenge.

First up

His first league matches in charge were against Liverpool at home, and Tottenham away, which are about as demanding an introduction as a new Premier League manager could be handed. The opening game ended in a 2-2 draw, but the Magpies managed a 2-0 victory over a Spurs.