Newcastle appoint Jaissle – what should fans expect?
Newcastle United have appointed 38-year-old German coach Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach on a four-year deal, succeeding Eddie Howe, who stepped down after leading the club to a first trophy in decades. Jaissle arrives without prior Premier League experience but built his reputation with successes at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria and Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, and he takes charge as Newcastle attempt to rebuild after losing several key players, including captain Bruno Guimaraes, who is joining Arsenal.
Jaissle becomes the Premier League's second-youngest current head coach and will make his competitive debut against Liverpool on 23 August. Having already joined the squad's pre-season training camp in Spain, he is described by those who have worked with him as demanding and detail-oriented, expecting high intensity in training and willing to challenge players directly. He inherits a squad that has become notably younger this summer, though experienced figures such as Dan Burn and Fabian Schar remain, and his task will be to develop talent while competing against better-resourced rivals following a 12th-place finish last season.
- Newcastle name Matthias Jaissle, 38, as new head coach on four-year deal
- He succeeds Eddie Howe, replacing the club's EFL Cup-winning manager
- First Premier League game is away, or rather versus Liverpool on 23 August
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Newcastle United are one of English football’s best-known clubs, based in the north-east city of Newcastle upon Tyne. They play in the Premier League, the top division, where clubs compete for the league title and places in European competitions.
Matthias Jaissle has coached in Austria and Saudi Arabia, but has not managed in the Premier League before. He follows Eddie Howe, who led Newcastle to a major trophy, and takes charge of a younger squad with some experienced players still in it.
Newcastle are rebuilding after several important players have left. Jaissle’s challenge is to help the squad develop and compete in a league where some rivals have greater financial resources.