Matthias Jaissle has managed clubs in Austria and Saudi Arabia, and the 38-year-old German is now the surprise favourite to replace Eddie Howe as Newcastle head coach. Howe, 48, is set to leave St James' Park after nearly five years, having been in charge since November 2021 when he replaced Steve Bruce and later guided the Magpies to their first domestic trophy in 70 years by winning the Carabao Cup in 2025.
Former RB Salzburg boss Jaissle, who is currently in charge of Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, is now expected to come in. He would arrive with a strong recent record of success, and Newcastle's Saudi ownership would also be aware of his achievements in Saudi Arabia if Howe leaves St James' Park.
Jaissle was a centre-half as a player, progressing through the Stuttgart youth system before playing senior football for Hoffenheim from 2007 to 2014. He represented Germany at Under-21 level, but was forced to retire through injury at the age of 25.
He took his first coaching steps as assistant manager of Danish club Brondby between 2017 and 2019. He then took over RB Salzburg's Under-18 academy team before becoming a head coach for the first time at Liefering in Austria's second tier.
At Liefering, he guided the team to a second-placed finish, the club's joint best-ever position, and that achievement helped him become RB Salzburg manager in 2021, replacing Jesse Marsch, who would later manage Leeds United and then Canada at the 2026 World Cup.
In two seasons with RB Salzburg, Jaissle won the Austrian Bundesliga twice and also the Austrian Cup once. Their team included Benjamin Sesko and Brenden Aaronson, who now play in the Premier League with Manchester United and Leeds United respectively, and German forward Karim Adeyemi, now at Barcelona.
Jaissle joined Saudi club Al-Ahli in 2023 and led them to consecutive Asian Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026. Such success would have been noted by Newcastle's Saudi ownership in the event of Howe leaving St James' Park.
Magpies supporters will be encouraged by Jaissle's methods, with his teams playing high-pressing attacking football. He demands intensity and turnovers forced as high up the pitch as possible.
England boss Thomas Tuchel was a youth coach at Stuttgart when Jaissle was a player there, and the pair spoke before Toney was included in the Three Lions' World Cup squad this summer.
"I had fantastic feedback from his club coach, who was my player and I have a close connection with him," said Tuchel after naming his squad.
Newcastle fans would be hoping Jaissle could also help convince 30-year-old Toney to return to the Premier League after two years playing in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ahli's side include England striker Ivan Toney, Brazil defender Roger Ibanez and former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. 
Last summer, striker Alexander Isak moved to Liverpool at the end of the transfer window for a British record of £125m and Newcastle then lost two key players this summer - Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while Arsenal are chasing captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season, missing out on European football for 2026-27, and lost 4-1 to Championship side Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.
The Magpies begin their league campaign at home against Liverpool on Sunday, 23 August.
How did Jaissle build his coaching record?
Jaissle's rise in coaching began after his playing career ended early because of injury at 25. He moved from assistant roles into academy work at RB Salzburg before taking charge of Liefering and then Salzburg's first team.
His stint at RB Salzburg established him as one of the more successful young coaches in Europe, with two Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup in two seasons.
Why might Newcastle's owners be interested?
Jaissle's success at Al-Ahli is likely to have stood out to Newcastle's Saudi ownership, particularly his consecutive Asian Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026. He is also already familiar with several high-profile players, including Ivan Toney, Roger Ibanez and Edouard Mendy.
What kind of football does he favour?
Jaissle is known for high-pressing attacking football. His teams are expected to show intensity and try to win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible.
Key Facts
- Matthias Jaissle is the surprise favourite to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle.
- Howe is set to leave after nearly five years and won the Carabao Cup in 2025.
- Jaissle won two Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup with RB Salzburg.
- He led Al-Ahli to Asian Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026.
- Newcastle start their Premier League season at home to Liverpool on Sunday, 23 August.
