Newcastle United are set to part ways with manager Eddie Howe with immediate effect, bringing an end to a nearly five-year spell in charge following a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
The 48-year-old’s final match is expected to be Wednesday’s 4-1 pre-season defeat to Bristol City, while Saudi Pro League coach Matthias Jaissle is widely expected to become the club’s next manager.
Howe took charge of Newcastle in November 2021, shortly after the club’s takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and oversaw one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history. During his tenure, he guided the Magpies to Champions League qualification in both 2023 and 2025 and ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by lifting the 2025 Carabao Cup.
However, Newcastle struggled to build on that success last season, finishing 12th in the Premier League after losing 17 of their 38 league matches. Their Champions League campaign ended in the last 16 with an 8-3 aggregate defeat to Barcelona, while their Carabao Cup title defence concluded in the semi-finals.
Despite significant investment of around £240 million on new signings a year earlier, Howe grew increasingly frustrated with the club’s transfer situation. The departure of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool proved a major blow, with Howe previously describing the loss as a difficult challenge while repeatedly calling for reinforcements during the January transfer window.
The squad has continued to weaken this summer, with Sandro Tonali joining Tottenham Hotspur and Anthony Gordon moving to Barcelona. Captain Bruno Guimaraes is also attracting strong interest from Arsenal, further increasing uncertainty around Newcastle’s plans.
Although Howe had previously accepted that player sales would be necessary to meet financial requirements and initially intended to remain at St James’ Park, his position reportedly shifted during the summer amid concerns over the club’s direction in the transfer market.
Across his Premier League reign, Howe managed Newcastle in 179 matches, recording 84 victories, 38 draws and 57 defeats. His 46.9% win rate is second only to Kevin Keegan among Newcastle managers, while his 84 league victories are the highest achieved by any manager in the club’s Premier League history.
The man expected to replace him, Matthias Jaissle, has enjoyed a rapid rise in coaching. The 38-year-old has managed Al-Ahli since 2023, leading the Saudi club to consecutive AFC Champions League titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
A former defender whose playing career ended prematurely through injury at 25, Jaissle began coaching as an assistant at Brondby before taking charge of Liefering in Austria. He later succeeded Jesse Marsch at RB Salzburg, where he won back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles and an Austrian Cup before moving to Saudi Arabia.