Newcastle United have appointed Matthias Jaissle as head coach despite his lack of experience in Europe's top five leagues, tasking the 38-year-old German with rebuilding a squad that's lost four key players in a year. His first competitive game is against Liverpool on Sunday, 23 August — just 17 days away.
Jaissle becomes the Premier League's second-youngest current head coach. He's delivered success in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli and in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg, winning back-to-back Asian Champions League titles and two successive Austrian league titles. But this is different. "It won't be easy to succeed Eddie [Howe]," a source said. There's an element of risk in the move.
The Inheritance
Eddie Howe took charge of a side in relegation trouble, kept them up, then ended Newcastle's long wait for silverware by winning the EFL Cup last year and qualifying for the Champions League on multiple occasions. Last season Newcastle finished in 12th place. Howe watched Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon leave within a year. Newcastle are set to lose a fourth key player too, with captain Bruno Guimaraes heading to Arsenal.
Jaissle's remit will be to develop players and outperform clubs with bigger wage bills. The squad's average age has dropped significantly this summer. He'll rely on experienced heads such as Dan Burn and Fabian Schar in the dressing room, but he's working with a thinner, younger group than his predecessor had.
What He Brings
In the statement announcing his appointment on Wednesday, Jaissle said it was an "incredible honour" to become head coach of "one of the biggest clubs in European football". He said: "My teams are built on togetherness, hard work, intensity and a passion to improve every single day. I believe there is enormous potential within this squad and throughout the football club. I give my complete commitment and total energy to bringing further success to Newcastle United."
Jaissle arrived at Newcastle's pre-season training camp in Spain at the weekend. A source said: "He will try to understand the culture, what Newcastle means to the community, as soon as possible. That's what he will live by."
Former Salzburg midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic said: "We did lots of small-sided games to keep the intensity high and if someone had not been giving it their all, he called them out on it. He's not afraid to address things head-on." Newcastle's squad should expect him to be just as demanding as his predecessor in training.
Jaissle also brings a group of coaches and analysts who will look to quickly get his message across. Al-Ahli defender Merih Demiral said: "Looking forward to going to training every day was so important. They paid great attention to every detail and always made sure we were fully prepared. Matthias has built a really strong team around him and they played a huge role in our success."
The Track Record
Jaissle, a former defender with Hoffenheim, was a few months younger than Junuzovic when he took charge of Salzburg five years ago. He challenged Junuzovic to improve and earn his place in the starting line-up, and "kept his word" when he did. Junuzovic said: "He understands the players' language."
Red Bull Salzburg haven't won the league since Jaissle departed following his second successive triumph three years ago. The Austrian club hasn't reached the Champions League knockout stage since doing so for the first time ever under Jaissle four years ago, even if they were ultimately hammered 8-1 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the last 16. Jaissle went on to show an ability to adapt at Al-Ahli with a different profile of player, winning back-to-back Asian Champions League titles. His side pressed high and got the ball forward quickly, but they also had solid defensive foundations and no other team conceded fewer goals in the Saudi Pro League last season.
Turkey international Demiral said: "The best way to describe him is his mentality. Even if we were losing 2-0 or 3-0, he never lost his belief. He always believed in his players and prepared us with the same mindset in training. This is one of the main reasons why we managed to come back and win so many matches."
Tactical Fit
BBC tactics correspondent Umir Irfan said Jaissle's predecessor Howe had similar principles in terms of building a side around physical intensity, pressing and direct attacks. Jaissle primarily uses a high-pressing 4-4-2 when the opposition are building from the back. Even when his teams are pushed into more of a mid-block, they've shown an impressive understanding of when to step forward and transition into a high press as a collective. Howe's defensive tactics should align well with the Red Bull style of pressing, which could make it easier for the players to buy into Jaissle's methods. The Premier League is constantly evolving, and if Jaissle is going to succeed there, that agility will be a vital asset.
Why This Matters:
Newcastle's appointment of an untested manager comes at a moment of significant squad transition. The club has lost four key players in a year and is working with a younger, less experienced group. Jaissle's task is to develop talent and outperform clubs with bigger wage bills — a challenge that requires not just tactical acumen but also the ability to extract maximum value from limited resources. His track record suggests he can build cohesive, disciplined sides that punch above their weight, but the Premier League is a different test entirely. With Liverpool away as his first competitive fixture in 17 days, there's little time to impose his methods. The club's ability to compete for European places will depend on whether Jaissle can quickly translate his success in Austria and Saudi Arabia to English football's most demanding environment.