Eddie Howe to Exit Newcastle After 179 Games and 2025 Carabao Cup Title

Head coach Eddie Howe is set to depart Newcastle just 25 days before the Premier League opener against Liverpool at St James' Park.

Eddie Howe is set to leave his role as Newcastle head coach after five years in charge, having recorded 84 victories in 179 games. The 48-year-old departs St James' Park with a 46.9% Premier League win percentage, a figure surpassed only by Kevin Keegan's 51.2% in club history. This leadership change occurs exactly 25 days before the Magpies are scheduled to host Liverpool on Aug. 23 to begin the new Premier League season. During the current summer preseason, Howe oversaw three fixtures: a victory against Darlington, a draw with Gateshead, and a loss to Bristol City this past Wednesday.

Howe’s tenure was highlighted by ending the club's trophy drought in 2025 when Newcastle won the Carabao Cup, marking their first major silverware since 1955. Under his management, the team also achieved Champions League qualification on two separate occasions. These successes followed his initial appointment in November 2021, when he replaced Steve Bruce. At that time, the club sat 19th in the table in the middle of a relegation battle, but Howe successfully guided the squad to safety during that first campaign.

Roster Changes and Transfer Activity

The head coach's departure follows the high-profile exits of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham. Further squad instability remains as Arsenal is linked with a move for Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães. To bolster the roster, Newcastle has agreed to a deal for Aladji Bamba from Monaco and completed the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Sean Steur from Ajax. Additionally, the club is reportedly considering Danilo Santos as a potential acquisition should Guimarães finalize a move to North London.

Statistical Legacy and Performance Review

While Howe led the team to the Champions League and domestic cup success, the most recent Premier League season saw the club finish in 12th place. This result came after the Saudi Arabia PIF-led consortium purchased the club shortly before Howe's arrival in 2021. Despite the disappointing league finish last term, his overall record remains one of the most efficient in the club's modern era. Reports from The Athletic indicate that Matthias Jaissle, the German manager currently leading Saudi side Al Ahli, is positioned to replace the outgoing Englishman.

Preparation for the Liverpool Opener

Newcastle must now navigate the final three weeks of the preseason without their long-term manager before facing Liverpool at St James' Park. The transition comes at a time of significant structural change, following the aforementioned departures of key first-team players Gordon and Tonali. The incoming manager will inherit a squad that has fluctuated between 19th place and Champions League qualification over the last five years. As the Aug. 23 kickoff approaches, the focus shifts to whether the club can finalize the signing of Bamba and retain Guimarães amidst ongoing interest from Premier League rivals.