Jaissle says knee injury led him to Newcastle and Eddie Howe
Matthias Jaissle says a serious knee injury at 25 that ended his playing career set him on the path to becoming Newcastle United head coach. The German has spoken privately with predecessor Eddie Howe, whom he called a great manager and human being, as he takes over after Howe stepped down amid a turbulent summer on Tyneside.
Key Takeaways
- Jaissle's Hoffenheim knee injury at 25 ended his playing days and shaped the outlook that brought him to St James' Park.
- He reached out to Eddie Howe after replacing him and praised the former boss's EFL Cup win and Champions League runs.
- Newcastle have lost Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon while adding six signings aged 24 and under.
- Striker William Osula says the squad is excited to work under Jaissle and has already learned his tactical style.
How did a knee injury set Jaissle on the path to Newcastle?
Speaking to the BBC, Jaissle called the injury "the biggest setback in my life so far" and said he was "in a real low at that time." After helping Hoffenheim win promotion to the Bundesliga, the former defender's career ended suddenly at 25.
That painful chapter, he said, showed him that challenges can be reframed as opportunities. "Now I'm here as manager of Newcastle United. I couldn't dream about that 15 years ago," Jaissle added. The 38-year-old signed a four-year deal running until 2030 after arriving from Al-Ahli, another club in Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund portfolio.
What did Jaissle say about speaking with Eddie Howe?
Jaissle quickly contacted Howe, who left after four-and-a-half years in which Newcastle won the 2025 EFL Cup and qualified for the Champions League multiple times. Although he kept the conversation private, Jaissle said he has "huge respect for what he did and what he built."
"What I can say is he's not only a great manager," Jaissle told the BBC. "He's also a great human being." Howe had looked increasingly drained after key departures, including Alexander Isak pushing to join Liverpool. Jaissle plans to echo Howe's "sticking together" message while pushing front-footed, aggressive football.
Can Newcastle stay competitive after Howe's departure?
The summer has been turbulent. Gordon, Tonali and Guimaraes are gone, and Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season despite chief executive David Hopkinson's ambition to fight for the biggest prizes by 2030. Jaissle acknowledged a "vacuum" after those sales but refused to make excuses.
Six new arrivals are all 24 or younger and may need time to adapt to Premier League intensity. Jaissle is confident of further signings before the transfer window closes on 1 September. For more on how manager changes reshape club narratives, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
How are players reacting to life under Jaissle?
William Osula, who turned 23 this month, told BBC Newcastle he wished Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall well after they moved on. Howe had signed the Danish striker for £10 million in 2024 on Tindall's recommendation from Sheffield United.
Osula said the squad is "all excited" about the new season under Jaissle. "We have already learned his playing styles in and out of possession and how he likes to play tactically," he added. Five goals in Osula's final seven league games last season suggest he could be central to Jaissle's rebuild as Newcastle open against Liverpool on Sunday.