Football Daily - Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle United

Episode Date: July 30, 2026

John Bennett presents reaction to Eddie Howe's departure from Newcastle United, just three weeks out from the new Premier League campaign.He's joined by the Daily Telegraph's Luke Edwards to discuss why exactly Howe has chosen to leave, and what his legacy at the club will be.Newcastle fan Samantha Rees tells us of her shock at Howe's departure. And we hear all about the frontrunner to replace Howe, Matthias Jaissle, from German football writer Constantin Eckner.TIMECODES 01:30 Why Howe decided to leave 05:40 The effect of Newcastle's recruitment 07:45 Newcastle fan Samantha Rees on her reaction to Howe's departure 17:10 Who is Matthias Jaissle? German football journalist Constantin Eckner on Newcastle's prospective new boss

This is the Football Daily podcast with John Bennett. Hello and welcome to the Football Daily and just weeks before the new Premier League season gets underway, Newcastle United are looking for a new manager. Eddie Howe is leaving the club with immediate effect after almost five years in charge. It's a departure that will potentially shock a lot of people given everything he's achieved on Tyne side, taking Newcastle from a relegation battle to the Champions League twice, ending the club's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with the League Cup success in 2025.

But of course it also comes off the back of a disappointing season. Newcastle finishing 12th in the Premier League, growing scrutiny over results and wider changes behind the scenes. So we'll look at why he's leaving, what it means for Newcastle going forward, and who's set to replace him? Joining me throughout is a football daily regular, Luke Edwards, from the Telegraph.

Hello, Luke. Did this interrupt a holiday this news? It certainly did the second day of my long-awaited summer holiday, completely and utterly ruined, children crying, wife annoyed. But that's the nature of the job, as unfortunately my family all know. Life as a Newcastle reporter. Well, I hope the children are happier in a few hours when you're back with them on this holiday. But let's talk about Eddie Howe leaving. It seems to have moved incredibly quickly.

Just tell us what you know, first of all. Was this his decision or was he pushed? No, this was definitely his decision. I don't think I'm betraying any trust now that he's gone. I mean, I think I first got wins of it speaking to him about three weeks ago when the Johan Manzambi deal fell through, if you remember, he went to Aston Villa. I think that's the first time I'd ever heard Eddie sound as low as he did, exasperated. But more than anything drained, really, really.

emotionally drained and physically drained. And I think he had wanted to come back this summer. You know, for the start of preseason, re-energized and refocused and obviously knew there was a big rebuild going on and that some big players would be sold. But I think he quickly realized that he just didn't have anything left in the tank. And I think there's been some frustrations in the transfer market. There's been some negativity in the fan base. I think for the first time, and I told him off about this. I think he had started to absorb some of that criticism. And we all know what social media is like and how poisonous and toxic it can be.

I think that had begun to sort of filter into his mindset a little bit. And I think, you know, there's a saying, isn't it? I think he's left Newcastle before Newcastle left him. I tried my best to talk him out of it. I tried to make him see the positives. I've, you know, tried to reassure him that the majority, your fans were still backing him, but I just think he could see the writing on the wall and why, as far as he concerned, why wait around to be sacked when you can leave amicably now? And he tried

his best to come back for preseason, but there was, there was just nothing, nothing there for him. I thought, you know, sure so much I know, John, but I thought I'd persuaded him to stay. I thought I'd talked him out of it. But then, yeah, early this morning, I got a message saying he was going. So a sad day, you know, a monumental one really, the modern history of Newcastle. But I don't think anyone can blame him. I'm devastated. He's gone on a personal level. He's been the most successful manager in Newcastle's modern history.

But I also totally understand the reasons for him stepping down when he does. So you've obviously been in close contact with him. How emotional is he about this then? Yeah, very emotional. I mean, it's been really hard for him to accept, really, that he had nothing left. but I think we have to understand what he is as a manager and as a person. He has to be fully committed. He has to be fully energized to do the job properly.

And I think we have to go back to how it ended at Bournemouth for him. He'd had similar emotions the summer preceding his final season at Bournemouth. He was talked into staying. And that season ended in relegation. It was, you know, her unfortunate, it was the COVID-affected season, if you remember. when the season was suspended and then restarted again behind closed doors. But Bournemouth went down. I think that has played a big part in how he feels about Newcastle.

I think he didn't listen to the warning signs at Bournemouth. And I think this time he has listened to those warning signs. Like I say, he tried to come back. He tried to come back and buy into this idea of a new look, younger team that would grow under him over the next two or three years. But I just think, you know, the problem with Newcastle, expectation levels have been raised so high. highly. You know, they're still expected to compete for European football. And if you're just, if you've dipped even a little bit, if you've got any doubts, I think mentally, physically, emotionally about it, you just can't do the job. And that is why he's done it. I mean,

he told the club a couple of weeks ago, I think he stayed on until they got their replacement. He's tried to do things in the right way. But there was just nothing left. And as sad as that is, given how successful he's been, you do have to understand it as well. The pressure on modern managers is so great. And I just think he'd had enough. Yeah, various factors then, but does it really come down to the recruitment? The final straw, you mentioned it, Manzambi, that deal falling through, and Bruno Gimerich potentially leaving the club.

Are they the two main final factors, do you think, in all this happening? I think so. There's been a sort of attempt since this news broke from every side, from people within Newcastle and Eddie as well, saying that. it wasn't down to the Bruno saga. You know, he has been involved in recruitment this summer. He backed the changing strategy and then the shift to a younger profile of players.

But of course, you know, people don't want to hear it, but Newcastle have missed out on all their top signings this summer again. They wanted James Trafford from Manchester City. He's gone to Leeds. Victor Munoz was their first choice winger to replace Anthony Gordon. He's gone to Liverpool. Manzambi, first choice midfielder, has gone to Aston Villa.

And, you know, that, you know, that makes it incredibly hard when, you know, you've got to sell your best players and your established players. And we have to point out that the Newcastle have had to sell this summer because of the financial regulations. They're in trouble with your wafer for breaking squad cost ratio rules. They've had to reach a financial settlement. They've had to cut the wage bill this summer. But when you've built a really good team at Newcastle, a successful one, you've qualified for the Champions League twice, and you've ended the club's 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by winning the Carabal Cup. and you've put your heart and soul into that job for almost five years.

The thought of then having to oversee a rebuild is one thing, but when you haven't got your first choice signings as well, that makes it even harder. And then, of course, the Bruno Gamera saga, it was Bruno told Eddie that he wanted to go. He was his first point of contact in terms of informing him he wanted to go. And I think, you know, we're all, everybody remembers the Alexander Isaac saga last summer and how that dragged out.

And I think now Bruno's got the perfect excuse with Eddie. leaving to really crank up the pressure to leave. And I think it just became too much. The thought of losing Bruno as well this summer, which I don't think he's definite, but, you know, if I was a betting man, I'll be putting my cash on Bruno joining Arsenal now. I just think it was too much. You know, he's a captain, talisman leader, Catalyst.

He's the glue that held everything together. And when you combine that with Tanali, Isak and Gordon in the space of 12 months, your four best players have left the football club, and you're still going to be expected for challenging for Europe moving ahead. that's a very hard box to square. Well, let's get the Newcastle fan perspective now. Samantha Reese joins us. Sam, thanks so much for being with us on the Football Daily.

So when you saw this news, what was your first reaction? Well, I couldn't believe it. I mean, you know, I agree that, you know, social media is very, very toxic and you've got particular fans that really wanted him out last season. and I always thought, no, give him a bit longer, you know. I mean, obviously I've had my moments where you think, oh, gosh, you know what I mean? Because we didn't have a very good season.

But I was very shocked because, but then it's probably the best time to do it, do it now. And when I was at Gateshead and then obviously last night in Bristol, he didn't look himself. You know, he didn't just, you know, but I still, when I heard that news this morning, a friend of mine texted me, and I was like, oh my God,

I just can't believe it. I really thought he might have given it a bit longer. I was at one of the home games towards the end of the last season for Five Live. I'm pretty sure it was the Bournemouth game, and you could feel some tension within the fan base and some of the fans turning. What was it like?

Give me a percentage. How many were pro-Eddie Howell and anti-Eddie-How towards the end of this situation? Well, I mean, the fans that were at the match, I think a majority was maybe sort of 70% were behind Eddie. You've still got that 30%. I mean, my son was one of them.

I'm not sure Eddie's, I think he's gone as far as he can. I think because he won us the trophy and he got us into Champions League, I think the majority of us thought, well, you know, he deserves another chance because we had all that saga last year with Isaac. We've had all of these signings not, you know, not coming to us. So he's bound to get frustrated.

So I don't blame him in a way. But I hope he knows that the majority of the fans wish him well in the future and really thank him. You know, I feel really sad that it's come to this. Yeah, we'll get on to his legacy and how, you know, your Newcastle fans will look look back at his time in charge. But stay there, Sam, because I want you to come in on this as well.

Luke, how much scrutiny will there be now on the ownership? The people in power at the club, because Eddie Howe was being criticized, but now surely that will move on to the owners. And were there huge tensions between Eddie Howe and the owners? Did they fall out, or is that too simple to say? Was it more nuanced than that? No, they didn't fall out at all, actually. I mean, I have to squash that.

that there hasn't been a fallout. It has genuinely been amicable. I think they understood. I think when Ross Wilson, the sporting director, you know, tried, like I did, try to persuade Eddie to carry on. I think he could tell by looking in his eyes that it was pointless.

And I think, you know, they've been very honest with each other. Eddie has stayed on until they could find a replacement. There hasn't been a falling out at all, really. I think there's been, you know, you ask about the owners now, but the problem, when I say this on Football Daily all the time, you know, Eddie was a lightning rod for dissatisfaction

and frustrations really last season because, as Samantha has said, it was a disappointing league season. They finished 12, which is the same position they finished under with Steve Bruce's manager and Rafa Benitez. There was, and I agree with Samantha again, probably a third of the fan base had turned against him. And it had become very toxic, particularly online. but you know Eddie was was you know he was the shield really for the owners and the people running the club

what has happened since because of squad cost ratio because of PSR because of the financial regulations Newcastle got themselves into trouble they've had to sell players and they've had to trim the wage bill I think that has been done sensibly I think the changing approach has been sensible but no one really has been honest about that the club almost this summer has had to take a step backwards to hopefully take two step forwards again in the next two or three years. No one's really been honest at that, and it was all been left to Eddie Howe to kind of explain. He was not really done very much media, but he was due to speak in Lamanga next week. I'm going over to Spain for a preseason training camp.

He was due to speak then, and then it would all be left on him to explain why are we cutting costs, why are we selling our star players? Why do we need to reduce the wage bill? But those things are all we need to be done. But I think the problem with Newcastle and all football clubs is that now the manager has gone, I think the focus will come into the whole of the Saudi Arabian project. You know, there's a stated aim from David Hopperson, the CEO, that they want to be in the conversation for one of the elite clubs in the world by 2030. They want to be in a position where they can challenge regularly for the Champions League and for Silverware by 2030.

That's four years away. And the manager who's brought them success, he really has powered the success since the Saudi Arabian takeover, has gone. I think if the new manager doesn't work out and if the team continue to go back backwards, then people will start to call into question all those promises and those pledges that were made and it will be, you know, the people at the very top of the club who start to fill the heat.

That is just football. That's not to say that the new manager might not be a huge success. He might build on what Eddie's done and he might achieve far more than he did. But I think, you know, it's a younger team now. It's a team full of potential. It's a team of players who are not going to be at their best for at least

six months a year, two years. So it's going to be a difficult season. And I think, you know, the whole project for me now is at a crossroads. Yeah, I agree. Actually, I was thinking, you know, you can see people online again, having to go with the owners, blaming the owners and everything. But, I mean, where's this come from? We don't know what's going on by enclosed doors as fans.

You know, we can only see what's in front of us. And in front of us is Eddie Howe, you know, and I feel sorry for him. you know, he's had no, probably had no control over things that's happening. I know this young, you know, this manager that's potentially coming in, you know, he likes, you know, he can develop young players, but that's not going to happen straight away. It's just, yeah, I really feel sorry, Freddie Howe and I hope he knows that the whole, not the whole fan base, but probably the majority of the fan base, you know, wishing well. I know I said that before, but, you know, he will go down as one of our best managers, you know, in modern times. He's won us a trophy. You know, we've waited all that time for it.

That was probably one of the best days of my life that he'd give me, you know. Matthias Yassler will be the next man in charge. We'll discuss him in a moment. Samantha, thank you so much for coming on and talking about Eddie Howe's departure. Before we look forward, Luke, I want to get your time. on the legacy question because Samantha said they're very emotional about the great day, the League Cup victory and how Eddie Howe will go down as one of the greatest managers in the club's history. And Alan Shearer, one of the greatest legends in the club's history has been on Instagram saying,

thanks Eddie, you gave us this day, a picture of Eddie Howe with the trophy. Talk to me about his legacy. And does he know, you've been in close contact with him, does he know that he is genuinely loved and will be loved for a long time by the Newcastle fans? Yeah, I think it's all a bit too immediate at the moment for him to really fully appreciate that. I think history will judge Eddie Howe very, very kindly. He is the man who did something that Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobbribson couldn't do. The other two great loved managers of the modern era, as it were, he won that trophy.

He ended a 70-year trophy drought. And, you know, anyone who lived in the city and who was at that victory parade back in the spring of 2025 when the bus came through and thousands and thousands, hundreds of thousands of people came out to, you know, celebrate with the team. It was a decade in the waiting. And it turned out to be the high water mark. But that was a truly special moment in the history of Newcastle United. And, yeah, his legacy is assured. and I'm sure when he does come back and he's not going to leave football

I'm sure he will return one day I think you'll see a lot of love and affection and an outpouring of a positive emotion towards him when he does. Five light sports So here's the first ball of this series All the cricket you laugh Shave Ralph lives on BBC sounds

Smash straight back down the ground this girl. Here ball by ball coverage of the biggest competitions on the domestic and international circuits It's a both cricket and it's the huge one One. Cheese, horse.

Settled down. Tough. Sorry. Cricket on five live sport. Oh, I've lived in every ball of this. Listen on BBC Sounds. So a very tough act to follow. Matthias Jasler, the man, tip to replace Eddie Howe.

I might not be too well known, given that his only head coaching roles to date have been in Austria and Saudi Arabia. So who is this man set to move into the dugout at St James's Park? Let's bring in German football journalist, Constantine Ekner. Key question, first of all, Constantine. How are we pronouncing his name? So it's Matthias Leisler. I knew that. I knew that.

I knew that all along. So I was going Yassler. We'll go Yaisler. Luke's pretending on you. But yeah, we'll go Yaisler from now on. So Constantine, a lot of Newcastle fans will be asking the same question. Who is Matthias Jaisler? And do you think he's the right man to come into such a big job?

Clear yes and no answer from my side. I think actually he might be the right man for the job. I mean, of course, there are a couple of uncertainties regarding Newcastle's transfer summer. So we don't know how the team will look once the Premier League season starts or once deadline day has passed. But in general, I rate Matthiasiazler very highly. Of course, a bit of an odd career path. So he won the Austrian Championship twice with Red Bull Salzburg. And then in 2023, we remember that the Saudi Pro League,

took shape, so it already existed, but it took shape in the sense that all these older players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Carving Benzema, Jordan Henderson went there, and then he also Jaeisler joined Al-Ali in 2023 and a lot of people in Germany and Austria were surprised by that and of course accused him of just making a money grab. But he actually has done fairly well

in Saudi Arabia too because he had to manage all these older plays. players who probably were there to get a lot of money, might not be that interested in actually playing a good football, but he did also well. He won the AFC Champions League elite, so the best competition in Asia, twice in a row now. What about his style?

Obviously, he comes from the Red Ball school, doesn't he? So is it too easy to say it's the high pressing, it's the intensity, it's the possession-based football that we've come to know from Red Bull? And do you think that will translate into the Premier League? So that's also something that separates him from some of the other Red Bull style coaches. He changed his style once he went from Salzburg to Ali, played a different brand of football, basically. Still very intensity-based.

I think one of the main ingredients when it comes to a Yaisler's football is intensity. And I think that's also a big advantage. I will come back to the point in a second. But first of all, he showed a lot of flexibility. Going from Austria, where he just managed the best team in the league, with the best players, Salzburg, and then going to Al-Ali, who haven't been the best team

in the Saudi Pro League. They just got promoted at that point when Jaisler joined them. Of course, he managed to win the AFC Champions League twice, beating Japanese sides in the finals and both. But it was a bit of a different

style of football he let play with Al-Ali. Coming back to the point of intensity, I think Jaisler, just like Fabian Hurtzler when he joined Brighton, is one of these young coaches who is very good in coaching intensity to all kinds of players. He's very good to actually communicating what he wants to do, and especially coaching intensity. And one big advantage I have been told by people who know Jaizler quite well, also similarity to Herzl on my opinion, is that Jaizler

communicates very precisely, very efficiently. When he's asked about something, he gives you a cut answer. He's not someone who's rambling around like we sometimes do, right? But he's giving clear answers. His English has improved greatly. So there are some similarities to Fabian Hurtzler, who does it the same way. And there's awesome, when we look at another German speaking coach, there are some differences compared to Oliver Klasner, who, when it comes to communication, might not be the clearest communicator. Yeah, personality is a big thing, isn't it, Luke, to manage Newcastle United. You could have be a special, person, haven't you, to get those fans behind you, to connect to those fans? Would that be fair to say?

Well, you'd better warn him. He's also got to deal with me. That would have been in the discussions, I'm sure, with the owners. I could be in a quiet taste, apparently. No, that sounds absolutely fascinating. And I really, I really liked the description of him and the insight into him there. I think the talk about playing with an intense style, that will certainly appeal to Newcastle. supporters. You know, they needed, I mean, I think they needed someone to inject fresh energy into it. And it sounds like he's a young manager. This is a completely different sort of test for him. We all know what the Premier League scrutiny is like. He's stepping into a job where somebody, a manager, a hugely popular manager for getting the slightly toxicity towards the end, he's hugely popular and successful manager, has overachieved at Newcastle for four or five years. So it's a huge job he's taking on. But I think a lot of what I've just heard there, you know,

fills me with optimism. It really does because I think he will need that intensity and that that all-action style of football and being able to communicate his ideas clearly. But yeah, the media side of it, it will be different. I mean, the scrutiny is going to be different to Salzburg. I know the biggest club in Austria. But, you know, the media interest in Premier League Football Club, not just a national audience, but an international audience, he's huge. And he will be under pressure as soon as he gets here. So that will be the big challenge for me. can he cope with that level of scrutiny? Can he cope with a crowd like Newcastles if things go badly?

He will need to get off to a good start. Of course all managers do. But I'm energised by what I've just heard. I have to say, as sad as I am to see Eddie go. I think, you know, you have to give the new manager a chance. I have never, ever judged a manager before they've taken charge of a game in my entire career. I'm not about to start. But yeah, I do feel positive listening to that.

And I think he'll need all of those qualities in UK. but yeah, the media side of things, the pressure, the expectation, that's going to be on a far bigger scale than anything he's experienced in his career before. Some managers thrive under that. People said, Yergan Klott might not, you know, might struggle at Liverpool and look at the job he did. So, you know, it all depends on the individual and their character, but that all sounded and bodes well. That's the unknown note, though, isn't it, Constantine? Because both Luke and Samantha have said, this could be a tough season and certainly the start is going to be tough. Matissexiasiazler, it's all been great for him so far. He's had success wherever he's been. If it doesn't go, go right,

the pressure will be on straight away. Do you think he can cope with that? I guess we have to see how he actually deals with that. But I believe just how smart he is that he probably can put a lot of things into perspective also for himself. If there is some pressure, if there's maybe also some criticism towards him, I mean, he dealt actually quite well when he was criticized widely by German media, German colleagues, when he made the move from Salzburg to Ali, you shouldn't forget. When he made the move in 2023, he had just won back-to-back championships in Austria, and he was lined up to be the next Leipzig coach or maybe Hoffheim coach, or maybe even Dortmund coach. I mean, he was linked to Dortmund, right? And he made the move

to go to Saudi Arabia. So he got a lot of blowback in Germany in his home country. I mean, He moved to Saudi Arabia, but still, I mean, he of course still lives alive in Germany in the sense, even then. And he dealt very well with that. He actually said, I understand. I understand that I get a lot of criticism and that people think I'm just a money grabber now. And he didn't really get rattled by any of the criticism in Germany. We will have to see how he deals with that. I just believe that he's very smart, that he keeps his cool usually, and he's very analytical.

and to the point that actually in January of 2025, Al-Ali rumored to be interested in Max Allegri. They possibly wanted to sign Maslemyano Allegri as their new manager. And the fans at Al-Ali, who actually got very excited during that Jaeisler tenure, protested against potential Al-Elegri signing because they just wanted to keep Jaeisler, who was an unknown? I mean, he was essentially a nobody as a player. He was very young when he got promoted to the Bundesliga, had to retire at the age of 25 due to an Achilles tendon tear. So he was basically still an unknown.

The youngest coach to ever win the AFC Champions League in Asia. So still fans wanted to keep him and not get Allegri, who's a much, much more well-known name. That tells you also something. Of course I get it. Al-Ali is one thing. Being in Jeddah, coaching a team there is one thing. winning the AFC Champions League is one thing.

Going to the Premier League is another thing. But I also believe that Newcastle fans might have some things put into perspective. Losing Tonali, maybe losing Bruno Gimeres, being in a position where they are right now. I don't think anyone in Newcastle believes that the Isler will coach them to the titles straight away. Constantin, thank you so much. We're keeping you busy with German managers or former Bundesliga managers in the Premier League. I'm sure we'll be speaking to you many times throughout the season. and thanks for joining us.

Luke, before we wrap things up, just one more final thought to you. I mean, there's a remarkable fact that Keith Andrews, who's only been in charge for 12 months at Brentford, he's the seventh longest serving Premier League manager. We're seeing so much change at the moment. When we look back at the Eddie Howe era, will today be remembered as the end of one era

or the start of something even bigger, do you think? I think it's very hard to say it's going to be, in the short term, I think it's the end of an era. I think, you know, a really successful, really exciting period for Newcastle. My concern is, and I'm old enough to remember it, wasn't actually working when Kegan left, but I was old enough to remember it. When Kegan left, they went into decline.

They then recovered and we know had a really good period under Bobby Robson, and then they went into a very, very long decline that lasted decades, not just years. I don't think that will happen under these owners for all the criticism that might be leveled at them. They are serious players. I do appreciate and have respect for Ross Wilson, the sporting director and David Hopkinson's, the CEO. They do, you know, the ambitions remains. We are eventually going to see a new stadium. We are eventually going to see a new training ground.

So I don't think they will go into decline as such, but I think this is going to be a tough season. I think it's going to be a period of transition. And I think, in a way, I think Eddie Howe's probably done them a favor in a way because I think the fans will recalibrate. and reassess where the club are. And I think ultimately Newcast, United supporters love their football club, and they will get behind the new manager, and particularly the young players. I think some of the pressure that we're building,

some of the established stars, players who've been there a few years, and you know, you get moans and groans when a player's been at a club for so long, don't you? Like managers, I think the fact that it is going to be a new look team, you know, people are all draw breath, they're reassess, and I think they'll still throw themselves into the new season with optimism and backing for the team. The worry is, if they have a bad,

season, like I said earlier in the podcast, if they start having a bad season and the new manager doesn't work, they will start to turn their attention to the ownership. That's just the nature of football. Back to the holiday now, Luke? I will certainly be back to the holiday. I've got a few other media appearances to do, but then, yeah, I will be back on holiday and I will not be on social media for a while. Looking forward to meeting Matias Yaisala as well, Yaisala. We now know. Yes, I'll be seeing him in La Manga. So a week, a week today. a week today. Luke Edwards from The Telegraph.

Thank you so much. Enjoy your holiday if you can. We will have the latest on all the news from Newcastle and Mattius Yaisler on the BBC Sport website and app. Thanks a lot to Samantha Reese as well and Constantine Ekna. That's what we've got time for for now. Thanks for listening. Goodbye for now.

This goes beyond what the KGB did back in the days. Conspiracy theories in the Football World Cup. Is there ever one without the other? Well, I've been digging into one of the very best back in 1994. Guy from Iraq gets a red card for a, you know, a dubious tackle. I'm James Montague and from BBC 5 Live, this is Sports Strangers Crimes Presents, Shadows on the pitch. Listen on BBC Sounds.