With a few weeks to the opening fixture of the Premier League reports have revealed that Eddie Howe is expected to leave his role as manager of Newcastle.
Eddie Howe is expected to step down as Newcastle United head coach, ending a five-year spell at St. James’ Park, according to reports from ESPN.
His departure is set to come less than a month before Newcastle begin the 2026-27 Premier League campaign with a home fixture against Liverpool on August 23.
Although Howe had initially committed to staying with the club following the conclusion of last season, he has since reconsidered his future. The 48-year-old has informed Newcastle’s hierarchy that he intends to take a break from football, with his exit understood to be on good terms.
Newcastle are already preparing for life after Howe, with negotiations at an advanced stage to appoint German coach Matthias Jaissle as his replacement.
Jaissle, 38, has enjoyed significant success with Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, guiding the club to back-to-back AFC Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026. Al Ahli, like Newcastle, are majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Before moving to Saudi Arabia in 2023, Jaissle built his reputation at Red Bull Salzburg, where he won consecutive Austrian Bundesliga titles as well as the Austrian Cup. Known for his aggressive pressing style and attacking philosophy, he is regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches.
Howe took charge of Newcastle in November 2021 after replacing Steve Bruce shortly following the club’s Saudi-backed takeover. At the time, Newcastle were battling relegation, sitting 19th in the Premier League.
He successfully steered the Magpies to safety before transforming the club into Champions League contenders. Under his leadership, Newcastle secured a fourth-place finish in the 2022-23 season to qualify for Europe’s elite competition, later earned another top-five league finish, and famously lifted the 2025 Carabao Cup by defeating Liverpool, ending the club’s 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
However, the 2025-26 campaign proved far more challenging. Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League and suffered a heavy 8-3 aggregate defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League round of 16. The team’s form also declined significantly during the second half of the season, winning only five of their final 17 league matches.
Despite growing questions over Howe’s future, discussions involving Newcastle’s senior leadership and representatives from PIF during the club’s annual meetings concluded with support for him to remain in charge. Nevertheless, Howe has now chosen to walk away from the role.
His departure comes during a turbulent summer for Newcastle. The club have already sanctioned the sales of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3 million and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur in a £100 million deal. Meanwhile, captain Bruno Guimarães continues to attract strong interest from Premier League champions Arsenal.
Prior to his time at Newcastle, Howe established himself as one of England’s most respected managers through two successful spells at Bournemouth, separated by a brief stint in charge of Burnley.
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