Newcastle United are considering Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle as the leading candidate to replace Eddie Howe, according to Daily Mail Sport. Howe's departure was confirmed on Thursday morning, ending a four-year and eight-month tenure at St James' Park.
The news came a day after Newcastle lost 4-1 to Championship side Bristol City in a pre-season friendly. Newcastle and Al-Ahli share a majority owner in Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Jaissle, 38, has held talks with the Newcastle hierarchy about succeeding Howe. He has built a track record of success despite only a few years in first-team management.
A rapid rise through the ranks
Jaissle's first job came in January 2021 as head coach of Austrian second-tier side Liefering. He guided them to second place that season, the joint-highest finish in the club's history.
That summer he replaced Jesse Marsch as manager of RB Salzburg. In the 2021-22 season he led the club to a domestic double, winning the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup, and took Salzburg into the Champions League knockout phase for the first time in their history.
He followed that with another Austrian league title the next season. Jaissle was sacked on the eve of the 2023-24 campaign, and Al-Ahli became his next destination on a three-year contract.
His success has continued in Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahli won their first-ever Asian Champions League title in 2024-25 and repeated the feat this season, with a squad including Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy.
A career he never set out to have
Jaissle came through Stuttgart's youth system under Thomas Tuchel and was a promising young defender at Hoffenheim under Ralf Rangnick before injury intervened. In 2009 the Germany Under-21 international suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear against Hannover and was never the same, retiring at 26 in 2014.
Speaking to Give Me Sport in December 2024, Jaissle said: "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. I would still love to be playing, even at 36. I kick every ball when given the chance in training! I like to think I'd be in my last season now as a player if I was fit, but that's life, and I am grateful for the next chapter and the opportunities I have had so far."
His path into coaching began when Rangnick, then RB Leipzig's head of sport, invited him onto a trainee programme in the club's youth department.
Influences from Tuchel to Guardiola
Jaissle named Rangnick and Tuchel among the coaches he looks up to, alongside Tottenham's Roberto De Zerbi, who could be an opposing manager next season. He told Give Me Sport: "I have had quite a unique coaching path, eventually leading me here to the Al-Ahli job in Saudi Arabia. I have always tried to be authentic as a coach and find my own way. Of course, I have influences. Ralf Rangnick played a big part in developing my ideas because I played under him for most of my playing career. And in my youth, I had Thomas Tuchel, so I have followed his principles and career. Then there's Jurgen Klopp, I often looked at the transitions he put in place with Liverpool. In possession, I like how Pep Guardiola finds structure and balance. And there's a lot to take from Roberto De Zerbi's build-up as well. It's a constant learning process. And in the next few years, I'm sure there will be a different coach to draw inspiration from. It's not about copying other coaches, it's just about being inspired by them."
Speaking to The Athletic in January about his management philosophy, Jaissle said: "I want stress on the opponent as soon as possible. And when we win the ball, I want to go as quickly as possible towards the opponent's goal. I'm very vertical in that approach."
With Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali already gone and captain Bruno Guimaraes' future uncertain, Jaissle would face a significant rebuild if he takes the Newcastle job.
Shearer urges caution
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said Jaissle would need time if he takes over. Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: "It's being reported that Matthias Jaissle is set to come in. I think we have to be careful if that is the case not to pile on. Clearly, he's got a great record in Saudi. Clearly, he's very young and inexperienced. The Premier League is a beast of a league. It's a big ask for anyone to come in and take over after what Eddie's done."
Shearer added: "I don't think it's a great look for what's happening at the minute with Newcastle, you know, it's like what's going on? We're selling all our best players. The fans are seeing Isak go, the fans are seeing Tonali go, the fans are seeing Gordon go. My guess is it's probably only a matter of time before Bruno goes, because he'll look at what's happening with all those players and look at what's happening with Eddie and think, well, from a personal point of view, from his point of view, I guess I'm going to be next. It's certainly not a good look, and they'll have to navigate some tough waves coming their way now, because it's the unknown. I mean, if Jaissle does come in, you're asking a 38-year-old to come in and navigate very, very tricky waters."
