The Athletic newspaper revealed that Eddie Howe has decided to leave his position as manager of Newcastle United after five years at the helm of the technical staff, while German Matthias Jaissle, coach of Saudi Al-Ahli, has emerged as the frontrunner to take over the role.
According to the report, the 48-year-old Howe informed Newcastle’s management of his desire to step away from football for a period, after changing his stance on staying with the team despite his previous decision to remain following the end of last season.
The newspaper confirmed that the English coach’s departure will be amicable, given Newcastle’s management’s readiness for the move, while negotiations with Jaissle have reached advanced stages.
Jaissle, 38, has achieved major successes with Al-Ahli, leading them to the AFC Champions League title in the 2025 and 2026 editions, and previously winning the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup twice in a row with Red Bull Salzburg.
Howe had taken charge of Newcastle in November 2021, guiding the team to avoid relegation before leading them to qualification for the UEFA Champions League and winning the EFL Cup in 2025, the club’s first major domestic title since 1955.
However, last season’s results were disappointing, with Newcastle finishing 12th in the Premier League and exiting the Champions League in the round of 16, increasing pressure on the manager before he finalized his decision to depart in the coming days.
