Eddie Howe has departed from Newcastle United, marking a significant change for the club. His exit comes after nearly five years in charge, during which he guided the Magpies to their first domestic trophy in 70 years with a Carabao Cup victory. Howe took over in November 2021 when the club was 19th in the Premier League, five points from safety after 11 games.
Under Howe’s leadership, Newcastle avoided relegation in his first season, then achieved finishes of fourth, seventh, and fifth in subsequent seasons, including appearances in the Champions League. Former player Alan Shearer described Howe’s departure as a surprise, especially given it occurred three weeks into pre-season and with three weeks remaining until the Premier League restarts. Shearer highlighted Howe’s role in ending the club’s long wait for a major trophy, a moment he cherished as a fan.
Managerial Change and Player Departures
The timing of Howe’s exit has raised concerns, particularly regarding player transfers. Alexander Isak left the club last summer, and this summer has seen the departures of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali. There is also speculation surrounding the future of captain Bruno Guimaraes. Shearer suggested that the continuous sale of key players might have influenced Howe’s decision to leave, and he expressed worry about the club’s prospects for the upcoming season, anticipating challenging times.
The club has also faced difficulties in securing new signings, with several attempted transfers reportedly failing. Hugo Ekitike, Johan Manzambi, and Victor Munoz are reported to have joined Liverpool or Aston Villa instead of Newcastle in the past year, and James Trafford is said to have chosen Leeds. These unsuccessful attempts to bring in new talent, coupled with the loss of key players, are seen as significant blows to the club.
Potential Successor and Club Direction
Matthias Jaissle, 38, is considered a strong candidate to take over as head coach. Jaissle previously managed RB Salzburg, where he won the Austrian Bundesliga twice and the Austrian Cup once. He also led Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia to consecutive Asian Champions League titles. His teams are known for playing high-pressing, attacking football, demanding intensity and turnovers high up the pitch.
Shearer noted that the club’s overall model appears to be changing, with a shift in the owners’ aims, ambitions, and transfer strategy. The focus seems to have moved towards selling established players and replacing them with younger prospects. This contrasts with the previous approach, which aimed for silverware every season and saw significant investments in players like Tonali, Harvey Barnes, and Tino Livramento. Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season and recently experienced a 4-1 loss to Championship side Bristol City in a pre-season friendly.
Howe’s final interview as Newcastle boss followed the loss to Bristol City, which he described as “difficult.”
Jaissle’s experience includes coaching players such as Benjamin Sesko, Brenden Aaronson, and Karim Adeyemi. His current squad at Al-Ahli includes England striker Ivan Toney, Brazil defender Roger Ibanez, and former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. England boss Thomas Tuchel, who was a youth coach at Stuttgart when Jaissle was a player, provided positive feedback on Jaissle’s coaching abilities.
Newcastle fans may hope that Jaissle could influence Toney to return to the Premier League. The club is set to begin its league campaign at home against Liverpool.
Source: bbc.co.uk