Newcastle United appoint Matthias Jaissle as new head coach 

Newcastle United have appointed German coach Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach on a four-year contract, bringing an end to the club’s search for a successor to Eddie Howe.

The Premier League side secured the services of the 38-year-old after agreeing a reported £9.5 million (€11 million) compensation deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, where Jaissle enjoyed considerable success over the past three seasons.

Jaissle has already joined Newcastle’s pre-season camp in La Manga, Spain, ahead of his official unveiling and preparations for the 2026/27 campaign.

Speaking after his appointment, Jaissle expressed excitement about leading the Magpies and said the club’s long-term ambitions convinced him to make the move.

“When Newcastle United comes your way, you take notice,” he said. “The ambition of the club, the vision for the future, and the opportunity ahead made this an incredibly compelling place to be. I fully and unreservedly believe in this project, the ambition, and the direction the club is taking.”

Jaissle arrives at St James’ Park with a growing reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches. A product of the Red Bull coaching system, he is known for his high-intensity pressing style, quick attacking transitions and tactical flexibility.

His managerial career began with Austrian side FC Liefering before he was promoted to Red Bull Salzburg, where he guided the club to back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles, an Austrian Cup and their first-ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage.

He later joined Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, leading the club to consecutive AFC Champions League Elite titles in 2025 and 2026, as well as the Saudi Super Cup.

Jaissle takes charge during a crucial period for Newcastle as the club continues to reshape its squad ahead of the new Premier League season.

His first match in charge will be a pre-season friendly against Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium, with further fixtures scheduled against Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg before the league campaign begins.

Newcastle will open the new Premier League season with a high-profile home fixture against Liverpool at St James’ Park.

Club Chief Executive David Hopkinson said Jaissle emerged as the preferred candidate following an extensive recruitment process, praising his leadership qualities, record of developing players and ability to build high-performance teams.

The appointment signals Newcastle’s intention to continue its long-term project under new leadership as the club aims to challenge for domestic honours and establish itself among Europe’s elite.