Newcastle United appoint Matthias Jaissle as new head coach

By Joel Kavanagh — 5 August 2026 — 3 min read

Jaissle takes charge at St James’ Park

Newcastle United have officially appointed Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach, following the departure of Eddie Howe. The German coach has signed a four-year deal with the club. Newcastle paid Al Ahli, a Saudi side, £9.5m in compensation for Jaissle’s services. His first match in charge of the Magpies is scheduled to be a pre-season friendly against Valencia at the Mestalla on Saturday.

Jaissle expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating that when Newcastle United approaches, one takes notice. He highlighted the club’s ambition, vision for the future, and the compelling opportunity it presents. He also mentioned following the club’s journey and acknowledging the progress made in recent years, expressing excitement for the future and his belief in the project’s direction, strong leadership, and existing platform.

Club CEO David Hopkinson described Jaissle as one of the most exciting and highly regarded young coaches in football. Hopkinson noted that a thorough recruitment process identified Jaissle as the clear candidate, possessing the necessary qualities, track record of success, leadership, and drive to improve, making him an exceptional fit for Newcastle United.

Coaching philosophy and track record

Before joining Newcastle, Jaissle had a successful tenure in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli, where he led them to consecutive Asian Champions League crowns over the last two years. This achievement made him the first coach to secure back-to-back titles in that competition. He also won the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong last year.

His coaching career also includes a notable period with Red Bull Salzburg, where he secured two Austrian Bundesliga titles and a domestic cup. During his time there, he guided the team to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages for the first time in their history, and also achieved further European progress in the UEFA Europa League. Jaissle’s first senior coaching role was with FC Liefering before moving to the top job at Salzburg in the summer of 2021. He won a domestic double in his first season at Salzburg and retained the league title in his second.

Newcastle United’s sporting director, Ross Wilson, emphasised that Jaissle’s leadership style and football philosophy align strongly with the club’s sporting vision. Wilson noted that Jaissle’s teams play high-energy football and that his passion was evident throughout the recruitment discussions. He further highlighted Jaissle’s consistent ability to improve players, build cohesive teams, and create elite performance environments throughout his coaching career.

Jaissle’s approach to football focuses on togetherness, hard work, intensity, and a daily passion for improvement. He expressed his full commitment and energy to help the club achieve its ambitions, believing there is enormous potential within the squad and the entire football club. He is eager to begin working with the players, staff, and leadership team to advance the club.

The 38-year-old German played for Hoffenheim before transitioning into coaching, which included an academy role at Red Bull Salzburg and a spell in Denmark. His ability to develop players, build resilient and high-energy teams, and contribute to elite high-performance environments has been a distinguishing feature of his career. Jaissle has been with his new squad since the weekend.

Club vision and future

Newcastle described Jaissle as the standout candidate after a “thorough, rigorous and confidential” recruitment process. The club highlighted his track record of developing players, constructing high-intensity teams, and his alignment with their long-term ambitions. Hopkinson reiterated that Jaissle is the right person to lead the club into the next phase of its journey.

Wilson added that Jaissle’s successes at Salzburg and Al Ahli underscore his capability to deliver results while establishing a clear football identity. The club believes he is uniquely positioned to build upon the strong foundations already in place and help propel Newcastle United forward. Jaissle’s coaching team at Newcastle United is expected to be announced shortly.

Jaissle’s first match in charge will be a pre-season friendly against Valencia at the Mestalla on Saturday.

Source: skysports.com