Newcastle appoint Matthias Jaissle as manager on four-year deal

Newcastle United have appointed German coach Matthias Jaissle as their new manager on a four-year contract, succeeding Eddie Howe and beginning a new era at St James’ Park.

The 38-year-old’s appointment was confirmed by Newcastle on their official website on Wednesday evening, only minutes after Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli announced Jaissle’s resignation.

Jaissle had already joined Newcastle’s training camp in La Manga, Spain, where he has been since Saturday. His move was completed after Newcastle reached an agreement with Al-Ahli to pay £9.5m to terminate the manager’s contract.

Speaking for the first time after his appointment, Jaissle said: “It is a great honour to become the head coach of Newcastle United. This is one of the biggest clubs in Europe, with an exceptional history, identity and fanbase, and I am looking forward to experiencing it at close quarters.”

He added: “When a club of Newcastle’s size contacts you, you realise the scale of the opportunity. The club’s ambition, its vision for the future and the project it is working on made my decision easy.”

Jaissle said he had followed Newcastle’s progress in recent years and believed the club had a clear direction and strong leadership, providing an ideal foundation for further success.

He takes charge during a challenging period for the club. Newcastle have agreed to sell their Brazilian captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75m, with the midfielder joining a list of departures this summer that also includes Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.

The club have also strengthened their squad with a number of young players during the transfer window. Among the most notable arrivals are Czech goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Sporting Braga, French goalkeeper Ioan Jaouen, and players Aladji Bamba, Sean Storr and Bazoumana Toure.

Those deals have taken Newcastle’s spending to about £140m under sporting director Ross Wilson.

Jaissle outlined a philosophy built around collective effort, discipline, an aggressive high press and a constant desire to improve. He also pledged to give everything in pursuit of Newcastle’s ambitions and to bring success to the club’s supporters.

Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson expressed his confidence in the new manager, saying Jaissle had emerged as the leading candidate after a detailed assessment process.

Hopkinson believes Jaissle’s successful record and leadership qualities fit the project Newcastle are pursuing as they aim to become one of the world’s biggest clubs by 2030.

The German is expected to take charge of Newcastle for the first time in a friendly against Valencia. The club will then begin the new season at home to Liverpool on 23 August.

Jaissle’s appointment marks the start of a fresh chapter following Howe’s departure, with the new manager facing the immediate task of integrating Newcastle’s new signings while managing the impact of several major exits.