Eddie Howe Leaves Newcastle United After Nearly Five Years as Head Coach

Eddie Howe has stepped down as head coach of Newcastle United after nearly five years, the club confirmed on 31 July 2026. The 48-year-old leaves after a season in which the Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League, losing 17 of their 38 league matches and missing out on European qualification for the coming campaign.

Key facts

Howe’s statement and backroom departures

In a personal statement, Howe said the decision followed a period of reflection. “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,” he said. He described managing Newcastle as “the privilege of my lifetime”.

His exit is not an isolated change. Assistants Jason Tindall, Graeme Jones and Stephen Purches, coach Simon Weatherstone and head of performance Dan Hodges will also leave St James’ Park, meaning the next head coach will have to rebuild the backroom team as well as the playing squad.

From relegation battle to Cup glory

Howe took charge in November 2021, replacing Steve Bruce when Newcastle were under serious relegation pressure. He steered the club to an 11th-placed finish in his first season, then secured Champions League football in 2022-23. The Magpies repeated that in 2024-25, adding the League Cup in the same campaign — their first major domestic trophy in 70 years.

“From fighting relegation in our first season to the numerous unforgettable nights at St James’ Park in the Champions League soon after,” Howe said of the journey. “Everyone came together, united and what a force we became. These are all memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

A testing final season

Last season was the hardest of his tenure. Newcastle reached the Champions League knockout phase for the first time, eventually losing to Barcelona in the last 16, but their league form collapsed. Seventeen defeats in 38 games left them 12th and without European football next season. BBC Sport’s coverage framed the departure against a backdrop of spending rules biting for the club’s Saudi-backed owners, while the same outlet reported club legend Alan Shearer describing the coming period as challenging.

Successor search and squad uncertainty

Newcastle said the process to recruit a new head coach is at an advanced stage, with German coach Matthias Jaissle named by BBC Sport as the favourite. The transition may extend beyond the dugout: related BBC reporting indicates captain Bruno Guimaraes is expected to join Arsenal. If confirmed, that would hand the incoming coach an immediate squad rebuild