Soccer
Who is Newcastle manager Jaissle?
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Matthias Jaissle’s first competitive match as Newcastle manager could hardly provide a gentler introduction to English football. Liverpool visit St James’ Park on Sunday, by which point the German may have spent as much time learning his players’ names as teaching them how to press.
Newcastle appointed Jaissle on 5 August, less than a week after Eddie Howe’s departure ended an eventful five-year reign. Howe took the club from a relegation battle to the Champions League and delivered their first major domestic trophy since 1955, but last season’s 12th-place finish represented a sharp decline. His eventual exit followed disagreements over transfers and the direction of the club.
Jaissle inherits more than the usual managerial hangover. Newcastle have sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3 million, Sandro Tonali to Tottenham for £100 million and Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75 million. That is the core of an excellent midfield and one of the side’s principal attacking threats removed in a single window.
The rebuilding job belongs to a 38-year-old whose playing career ended before it had properly developed. Jaissle was a centre-back for Hoffenheim but persistent knee trouble forced him to retire at 25. He moved quickly into coaching, working as Alexander Zorniger’s assistant at Brondby before Ralf Rangnick brought him into Red Bull’s Salzburg operation.
That education still defines his football. Jaissle progressed from Salzburg’s youth teams to feeder club Liefering and then, aged 33, succeeded Jesse Marsch as first-team coach. He won consecutive Austrian titles, completed a league-and-cup double in 2021-22 and led Salzburg into the Champions League knockout stage for the first time.
His Salzburg side generally used a midfield diamond that became a 4-2-2-2 when pressing. The forwards blocked central passes, the full-backs advanced aggressively and possession was moved vertically as soon as the ball was recovered. It was recognisably Red Bull football: young, urgent and allergic to harmless passing.
Jaissle demonstrated greater pragmatism after joining Al-Ahli in 2023. He often preferred a more structured 4-2-3-1, accommodating established players such as Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney without entirely abandoning his preference for intensity and quick transitions.
The results were difficult to dispute. Jaissle won 90 of his 123 competitive matches at Al-Ahli, a 65.2 per cent success rate, and guided them to consecutive AFC Champions League Elite titles in 2025 and 2026. He also lifted last season’s Saudi Super Cup.
Newcastle have at least supplied one familiar component. Amar Dedic, signed from Benfica for £29.5million, played under Jaissle at Salzburg and understands the physical demands placed upon his full-backs.
The greater problem is replacing the personality, leadership and technical quality stripped from Newcastle’s midfield. Jaissle wants front-footed, aggressive football, which should suit St James’ Park rather better than cautious reconstruction. But intensity is a principle, not a replacement for Guimaraes and Tonali. His first task is turning a summer of departures into something resembling a new beginning.
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