Newcastle United loses manager Eddie Howe shortly before season start

Behind the scenes, the departure had reportedly been in the cards for days. According to reports, Howe had grown increasingly dissatisfied with the club's sporting direction. Newcastle had failed to meet expectations the previous season and finished without a European qualification spot.

Background: Howe's time at Newcastle

Under Howe, Newcastle had only a few years earlier celebrated reaching the Champions League and re-established itself among England's top group after years in mid-table. The club had invested heavily in previous transfer windows but had ultimately fallen short of expectations.

Search for a successor

The club now faces the sporting and personnel challenge of presenting a successor in the shortest possible time. Matthias Jaissle, most recently in charge of RB Salzburg in Austria, has been repeatedly mentioned in recent days as a possible candidate. Whether the former Salzburg coach will indeed take charge at Newcastle was initially unclear.

The timing of the departure is considered unusual: with the start of the new Premier League season, Newcastle is on the verge of important competitive fixtures. A smooth transition on the touchline is now essential if the club does not want to fall behind early in the season.

Alongside the search for a manager, the club's management is also dealing with squad planning. Newcastle had been pursuing several attacking players this summer but had recently not been able to complete all of its desired transfers. With the coming weeks in mind, a great deal is likely to come the way of the club bosses on both a sporting and personnel level.

Open questions about the new season

As Newcastle announced, the club will comment on the successor in the coming days. Until then, the existing coaching staff is expected to take charge of the squad. In the meantime, fans are reacting with mixed feelings: on one hand, there is great gratitude for Howe's work; on the other, the late timing is causing unease.

The English Football Association and the Premier League itself have not yet commented on the move. No next destination for Howe has officially been communicated either. In media reports, a role in Saudi Arabia with the club Al Ahli had recently been mentioned as a possible option.

What is certain is that Newcastle is embarking on the new season with a sporting building site that seemed unlikely just a few weeks earlier. Although the club has a strong squad, it must absorb the upheaval on the touchline as quickly as possible in order not to fall behind early on.