Football

The news of Eddie Howe’s departure from Newcastle United just weeks before the start of the new season was a bombshell that made waves throughout the Premier League.

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The summer of 2026 has brought significant change to Tyneside, with multiple star players leaving the club and a wave of new signings brought in.

Now, they will deal with a change of manager as well, with Howe suddenly stepping down in a what has been described by multiple reporters as an «amicable» split.

So what happened to force Howe out the door, and what comes next for Newcastle?

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Why did Eddie Howe leave Newcastle United?

 Howe has been one of the most influential figures at Newcastle through his five-year tenure at the club, and was beloved by fans. So why depart suddenly just weeks before the start of the 2026/27 season?

Multiple reports claim that Howe made up his mind to leave three weeks prior to the news breaking and communicated this to the club, but he agreed to stay on through the start of preseason until his replacement could be identified.

According to a report by Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, Howe was exhausted from his time on Tyneside. «Howe had reached the end, emotionally, mentally and physically,» Edwards wrote. «He had nothing left to give.»

Edwards cited Howe’s time at Bournemouth, which for so long proved a match made in heaven, but he stayed one season too long and suffered relegation. «He knew the warning signs,» Edwards wrote. «This time he listened to them and acted.»

There was also mention that negativity had begun to seep into the dressing room. Edwards wrote that Howe «had lost belief in the project under the club’s Saudi Arabian owners.» Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have already been sold this summer, and it seems that Bruno Guimaraes is also nearing a move away, with two of those three key departures joining Premier League rivals. Last year, they lost Alexander Isak to Liverpool after weeks of posturing in which the club privately insisted it would not sell.

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According to Sami Mokbel of the BBC, «the transfer strategy has prompted some concern with regards for how the squad is shaping up next season.»

Who will be next Newcastle manager?

According to multiple reports, the club has identified Al Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle as the man to take over for Howe.

The 38-year-old German is highly regarded in his home country, having enjoyed a seven-year playing career with Hoffenheim before retiring and turning to coaching. After spending one year in charge of Austrian side FC Liefering in his debut managerial role in 2021, he joined giants Red Bull Salzburg as the successor to Jesse Marsch.

He lead the club to its first-ever appearance in the Champions League knockout stage and won league titles in both his seasons in charge.

He moved to Al Ahli in 2023 on a three-year contract, joining the club that had just been promoted back to the Saudi Pro League. They finished third in his first season at the helm, qualifying for the Asian Champions League. They would then win the AFC Champions League Elite title two years in a row, becoming a behemoth during his short reign.

Eddie Howe record, trophies won at Newcastle

Howe leaves Newcastle as one of the most successful managers in the club’s modern history.

He leaves with a record of 112-48-71 in his 231 matches in charge, a 48.5% win rate.

His only trophy won was the 2024/25 EFL Cup, also reaching the 2023 final as well, but he re-established the club as a regular contender for Champions League qualification and brought success in the process. They reached the Champions League Round of 16 last season, their best-ever result in Europe’s top competition.

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