NEWCASTLE have turned to a disciple of Ralf Rangnick as they look to replace Eddie Howe.
Matthias Jaissle, 38, is expected to jump into the hot seat at St. James’ Park after .
Matthias Jaissle currently manages Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli Credit: Getty
Eddie Howe has left Newcastle just weeks before the new season is about to begin Credit: Alamy
Becoming the Magpies head coach would cap off a remarkable rise for Jaissle, who currently manages Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli.
The German was a talented centre-back, but was forced to retire in 2014 at the age of just 26 after never truly recovering from a knee injury picked up five years earlier.
Former boss Rangnick came to Jaissle’s aid after that and invited him on a trainee programme with RB Leipzig’s youth academy.
The pair knew each other as Rangnick coached a young Jaissle during his time as manager of and he reached out in his new role as RB Leipzig’s head of sport.
Jaissle rose through the ranks in the Red Bull network and eventually landed the job as head coach of RB Salzburg in 2021 at the age of 33.
The German won the Austrian Bundesliga in both his two seasons in charge and was heralded as one of the brightest young coaches in Europe.
That is a point made on the coach’s own personal website – https://matthias-jaissle.com/ – that charts his rise.
The opening line on the site reads: “Football is a reflection of life. Victories. Defeats. Joy. Sorrow. Passion. It’s all part of it.
“Matthias Jaissle experienced it himself. As a player whose career had to end far too early due to injury. And as a coach who celebrated several titles at a young age.”
Those titles have continued in Saudi Arabia, where Jaissle has been managing Al Ahli since 2023.
He has won the Asian Champions League Elite twice and the Saudi Super Cup in his time out there.
Matthias Jaissle with his glamorous partner Lisa Czetsch Credit: instagram @lisa_czet
Matthias Jaissle has been in Saudi Arabia for the last three years Credit: Getty
German coach Matthias Jaissle is renowned for being a stylish dresser Credit: AFP
Jaissle can argue he has done it in style, too. Not only with his football on the pitch, but also his clothes off it.
He is renowned for being a snappy dresser and early in his career that led to comparisons with .
It was not a hard parallel to draw, given Jaissle was a young and trendy German coach who liked to play attacking football.
But, in 2022, he said: “I’m not Julian Nagelsmann 2.0. I’m Matthias Jaissle.”
Jaissle insists he has his own style, but having honed his skill in the Red Bull model there is an obvious influence from Rangnick.
The German told GiveMeSport in 2024: “I have always tried to be authentic as a coach and find my own way.
Matthias Jaissle arrives with a growing reputation as one of Europe’s best young coaches Credit: AFP
Matthias Jaissle led RB Salzburg in the Champions League in 2022 Credit: PA
“Of course, I have influences. played a big part in developing my ideas because I played under him for most of my playing career.
“And in my youth, I had , so I have followed his principles and career. Then there’s – I often looked at the transitions he put in place with Liverpool.
“In possession, I like how finds structure and balance. And there’s a lot to take from Roberto De Zerbi’s build-up as well. It’s a constant learning process.
“I am always refining my style, but essentially, and I know it’s easy to say, we want dominance in all phases of the game.
“It’s a never-ending process because you always need to develop your ideas as a coach without abandoning your roots.
“At Salzburg, I played a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield. At Al-Ahli, we use a 4-2-3-1 system. You have to adjust to the squad you have as well as the circumstances.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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