Eddie Howe has officially stepped down from his position as head coach of Newcastle United. The decision was reached after intensive discussions with the club's senior management over the past two days, although the idea of a possible exit had been circulating for several weeks. During that period Howe continued to concentrate on preparing his squad for the opening Premier League match against Liverpool on August 23, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. His resignation now comes just 25 days before that high‑profile encounter.
The leading candidate to replace Howe is Matthias Jaissle, currently employed by Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia. Sky Sports News reports that negotiations with the 38‑year‑old German are at an advanced stage and that Newcastle hope to confirm his appointment within the next 24 hours. Al Ahli is one of the four football clubs owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the same sovereign wealth fund that also controls Newcastle United.
Other names that were reportedly on the shortlist included Kieran McKenna and Antonio Conte, but the Magpies appear to have settled on Jaissle. If the appointment goes ahead, the new manager will immediately take charge of the pre‑season training camp in La Manga, Spain, where the squad is due to convene later this week.
Newcastle have already endured a turbulent summer. The club sold midfield dynamo Sandro Tonali and winger Anthony Gordon, and now faces uncertainty surrounding captain Bruno Guimarães, who is the subject of a strong pursuit by Arsenal. Those departures have contributed to Howe’s decision, as he expressed concerns about the composition of the squad at the start of the new campaign. In addition, the club transferred striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British‑record fee of £125 million last summer.
Despite the upheaval, Newcastle have been active in the transfer market. They secured 20‑year‑old winger Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £42 million, 18‑year‑old midfielder Sean Steur from Ajax for £23 million, and 20‑year‑old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Reims for £18.5 million. However, they missed out on Johan Manzambi, who chose to join Aston Villa – a disappointment for both Howe and the club. Howe’s tenure at Newcastle will be remembered as one of the most successful in the club’s modern history.
He guided the team to a League Cup triumph, ending a 70‑year wait for major silverware, and secured top‑five Premier League finishes that earned the Magpies two consecutive Champions League berths. Last season the club advanced further in Europe than it ever had before.
His final match in charge was a 4‑1 defeat in a friendly against Championship side Bristol City. After the game, Howe informed his coaching staff that his departure had been in the works for about two weeks and was not directly related to the result. He said he had given his full commitment to Newcastle at the end of the previous season but had since reconsidered, opting to take a break from football. Howe also expressed a desire for the club to have a successor in place before he left, emphasizing that the decision was his alone and that there was no ill will between him and the organization.
According to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, the club attempted to persuade Howe to stay, but the manager felt he had taken the role as far as he could after nearly five years. The players have not yet been informed, and the squad is scheduled to travel to Spain for the pre‑season camp on Friday.
Newcastle have not released an official statement, but sources indicate they are moving quickly to finalize Jaissle’s appointment, while still keeping Conte and McKenna in the conversation. Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher offered his perspective, suggesting that Howe may have lost the energy required to rebuild the team after the recent exodus of key players.
Carragher noted that constructing a new competitive side often takes two or three seasons, and the looming departure of Guimarães to Arsenal could have further diminished Howe’s motivation. Nevertheless, Carragher praised Howe’s legacy, calling him an “icon” and a “legend” at Newcastle. In his concluding remarks as manager, Howe declined to guarantee Guimarães’ future amid intense Arsenal interest, but he stressed that the Brazilian midfielder’s destiny was not entirely in his own hands.
Howe reiterated his belief that Guimarães remained fully committed to the club, highlighting his exemplary training ethic and match performances. He added that any distraction surrounding the transfer saga was unhealthy, but ultimately beyond the control of both the player and the manager.
Former striker Jay Bothroyd echoed the sentiment that the club’s recent player turnover has created a difficult environment for any manager. He pointed out that losing stars such as Isak and seeing other key figures depart has left Newcastle with a weakened squad, making the prospect of a new manager’s success uncertain.
Bothroyd predicted that the team could find itself battling relegation this season. Fans and commentators have voiced a range of reactions. Some, like HullToon, wonder whether Howe felt adequately supported and whether the original project he championed is still viable. Others, such as JimmiDee, argue that Howe deserved more stability and that the club’s aggressive selling policy over the past two seasons set an unrealistic expectation for any successor.
A handful of supporters have already begun planning tributes, with comments ranging from calls for new statues to heartfelt thanks for Howe’s contributions. As Newcastle navigate this transitional period, the focus now shifts to the swift appointment of Matthias Jaissle and how he will address the squad’s deficiencies, integrate the recent signings, and manage the looming departure of Guimarães.
The club’s performance in the upcoming pre‑season camp and the early league fixtures will be critical indicators of whether the new managerial direction can restore optimism among the Magpies’ supporters and halt the recent decline.