Matthias Jaissle emerges as surprise frontrunner to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle

Eddie Howe's time at Newcastle United is set to end after nearly five years, and the club's Saudi-backed hierarchy have identified Matthias Jaissle as the leading candidate to take over. Howe, 48, leaves St James' Park having delivered the Carabao Cup in 2025 - the Magpies' first domestic trophy in seven decades. But a 12th-place Premier League finish last season and a 4-1 pre-season defeat to Championship side Bristol City have accelerated the decision. Jaissle, 38, currently manages Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. The German former centre-half spent his playing career at Hoffenheim after coming through Stuttgart's academy, representing Germany at Under-21 level before injury forced him to retire at 25. He began coaching as an assistant at Danish side Brøndby, then took over RB Salzburg's U18s before leading Liefering to a club-record second place in Austria's second tier. That earned him the top job at RB Salzburg in 2021, where he succeeded Jesse Marsch - later Leeds United boss and now Canada head coach for the 2026 World Cup. In two seasons at Salzburg, Jaissle won two Austrian Bundesliga titles and an Austrian Cup. His squad included Benjamin Šeško (now at Manchester United), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) and Karim Adeyemi (Barcelona). Since moving to Al-Ahli in 2023, Jaissle has won back-to-back Asian Champions League crowns in 2025 and 2026 - achievements that have not gone unnoticed by Newcastle's ownership. His teams play high-pressing, attacking football built on intensity and winning the ball high up the pitch. Al-Ahli's squad includes England striker Ivan Toney, Brazil defender Roger Ibañez and former Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. Jaissle has a direct link to England manager Thomas Tuchel, who coached him as a youth at Stuttgart. Before naming his World Cup squad this summer, Tuchel said: "I had fantastic feedback from his club coach, who was my player and I have a close connection with him." Newcastle fans will hope Jaissle can convince Toney, 30, to return to the Premier League after two years in Saudi Arabia. The Magpies have already lost Alexander Isak - sold to Liverpool for a British-record £125m last summer - plus Sandro Tonali (Tottenham) and Anthony Gordon (Barcelona) this summer. Arsenal are chasing captain Bruno Guimarães. Newcastle begin their league campaign at home to Liverpool on Sunday, 23 August.