Eddie Howe is reportedly set to depart Newcastle United in a surprise move that would bring an end to his five-year tenure at St James’ Park. According to reports, the manager has informed the club of his desire to take a break from football, with his exit expected to be finalized imminently.
The decision follows a difficult 2025/26 campaign that saw Newcastle finish 12th in the Premier League. The team faced several setbacks throughout the season, including a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and an 8-3 aggregate loss to Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16. Manchester City also knocked the Magpies out of the FA Cup in the fifth round. Despite these struggles, the club had initially planned to retain Howe, but he has opted to step down just hours after a 4-1 pre-season friendly defeat to Championship side Bristol City.
Newcastle is reportedly moving quickly to appoint a successor, with German coach Matthias Jaissle identified as the primary target. Jaissle, formerly of Red Bull Salzburg, is currently the head coach of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. The transition comes as Newcastle navigates a busy pre-season, which began with a 3-0 victory over Darlington and a 1-1 draw against Gateshead. The club is currently dealing with significant transfer activity, as players like Bruno Guimaraes are linked with moves to Arsenal, while Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have already departed for Tottenham and Barcelona, respectively. To address these exits, Newcastle has brought in new signings including Bazoumana Toure, Aladji Bamba, Sean Steur, and Ewen Jaouen.
Howe leaves behind a legacy as a club legend, most notably for guiding Newcastle to their first major trophy in 70 years by defeating Liverpool 2-1 in the 2024/25 Carabao Cup final at Wembley. He also oversaw the club's return to the Champions League for the first time since 2002/03, highlighted by a memorable 4-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in October 2023.
