Howe leaves Newcastle with immediate effect
Newcastle United has announced the departure of manager Eddie Howe with immediate effect, with Matthias Jaissle expected to replace him.
Howe's departure comes five years after he joined Newcastle from Bournemouth, with his final match in charge being a 4-1 defeat to Bristol City in a pre-season friendly.
The 48-year-old had reportedly been debating whether to leave for several weeks, with Newcastle confirming his decision to do so in a statement.
It has been a difficult period both on and off the pitch for the Magpies, with Howe leading them to a 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season.
They sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a Premier League-record fee last summer, while Anthony Gordon has joined Barcelona and Sandro Tonali departed for Tottenham Hotspur this year. Captain Bruno Guimaraes, meanwhile, has been tipped to sign for Arsenal.
It had been reported that Howe was disgruntled about the club's transfer business ahead of the 2026-2027 season, with several of Newcastle's biggest players being up for sale.
Ewen Jaouen, Sean Steur, Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Toure have joined the club, but those new signings will now be working under a new head coach.
"After a period of personal reflection, I have decided that now is the right time for me to step away from my role as head coach of Newcastle United," Howe said.
"After nearly five years of giving my life, heart and soul into the club with unrelenting energy, I feel that it is in the best interests of both myself and the club to step away, recharge and take a break.
"Although it's been incredibly difficult to make this decision, I know in my heart that it's the right one. I have always put the best interests of Newcastle before my own in every single decision I have made whilst I've been here, and this one is no different.
"I remain incredibly positive and enthusiastic about the future of Newcastle. The club is in fantastic hands with a great leadership team, and I have no doubt that together, alongside whoever comes in to replace me, they will continue to deliver success on the pitch.
"While my journey as manager has now come to an end, the affinity and love I will always hold for Newcastle United never will. Thank you for everything. I wish the club every success for the future."
Newcastle also confirmed that coaches Jason Tindall, Graeme Jones, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone, as well as head of performance Dan Hodges, had left their roles.
Howe joined Newcastle in November 2021, a month after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund bought the club, and went on to oversee 231 matches across all competitions.
He won 116 of those matches, losing 72, and helped the club end its 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by beating Liverpool 2-1 in the 2024-2025 Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle was also Carabao Cup runner-up two years earlier, losing to Erik ten Hag's Manchester United in the showpiece match at Wembley Stadium.
Newcastle qualified for the Champions League in 2023 and 2025 under Howe, with its most recent appearance in the competition ending in the Round of 16 after a thumping 8-3 defeat to LaLiga giant Barcelona on aggregate.
The Magpies added that the process to recruit a new head coach "is at an advanced stage", with further updates to be provided "shortly".
Reports have suggested that its replacement will be Jaissle, who is currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
Howe's departure comes just less than a month before Newcastle begins its Premier League campaign, with Liverpool the visitor to St. James' Park on 24 August (AEST).
