Eddie Howe has stood down as Newcastle boss, according to The Athletic.

Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle is reported be his replacement having led the Saudi Arabian side, who like Newcastle are owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), to two Asian Champions League successes.

Howe took charge in November 2021, shortly after the club’s takeover by PIF, and earned cult status on Tyneside by leading them to their first domestic silverware in 70 years when they won the 2025 EFL Cup.

But cracks started to appear last season with criticism of his tactics and substitutions as Newcastle could only manage a 12th-placed finish in the Premier League with his reputation diminished further by home-and-away defeats to bitter rivals Sunderland.

Newcastle’s difficult pre-season convinces Howe it is time to go

A difficult pre-season – Newcastle were beaten 4-1 at Championship side Bristol City last night – has convinced Howe to walk away and he is now eager to take a break from the game.

Newcastle have sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer and captain Bruno Guimaraes is also pushing for a move to Arsenal.

In their stead, Newcastle have signed several youngsters as they look to operate differently in the transfer market.

Jaissle, 38, may not be known in the United Kingdom but he has developed a big reputation in Asia with a brand of high-intensity, attacking football that has produced great success.

The German moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023 after two successful seasons with RB Salzburg, claiming back-to-back league and cup doubles in Austria.

As a player, he spent his entire career with Hoffenheim as a central defender but was forced to retire aged 26 after failing to recover from an ACL injury.

He was integrated into the Leipzig coaching programme by Ralf Rangnick and eventually took over as head coach in 2021.