Alan Shearer has spoken of his shock at the timing of Eddie Howe’s resignation as the manager of Newcastle United.
Newcastle are understood to have identified Al-Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle as Howe’s successor. The Saudi Pro League club and back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite winners are majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also owns the Magpies.
Howe managed Newcastle for nearly five years, delivering Champions League football and the club’s first major silverware for 70 years but struggling to maintain consistent progress across multiple seasons.
‘It’s been an incredible ride’
Former Newcastle and England captain Shearer has admitted that Howe’s resignation caught him off-guard, and paid tribute to the outgoing boss after half a decade at the helm.
“I’m very, very surprised,” Shearer told Betfair. “I guess it's strange timing with three weeks to go until the new season kicks off.
“I don't know what's gone on, whether it was the end of last season, whether it was the summer, whether he feels they can't continue to sell his best players. I’m led to believe it was Eddie’s decision to leave.”
Howe’s Newcastle reached the final of the Carabao Cup in 2022-23 and again in 2024-25, when they were victorious against eventual Premier League champions Liverpool at Wembley.
It was the Tyneside club’s first trophy since they won the FA Cup under Doug Livingstone in 1954-55.
“It's been an incredible ride,” said Shearer. “I think the job that he did was unbelievable from where he took us when he came, there was a real threat of relegation. He steadied the ship. He then got us climbing the league.
“He then brought in some wonderful players. He then took us to a final; we got beaten in that final, but then took us back again and gave us the day that we've so craved.
“I've been to Wembley as a player and lost. I've been to Wembley as a fan and lost. But I've also had the pleasure of going to Wembley and winning thanks to Eddie. Whatever happens now, the Geordies will always be grateful for what he gave us that day.”
Shearer, now a popular pundit with BBC Sport, gave voice to Newcastle fans’ frustration over key players being sold, with Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon following Alexander Isak. He believes that captain Bruno Guimaraes will soon go the same way.
If he does, 2026-27 promises to be a challenging season for a team that don’t yet have Lionel Messi selling the pies and Cristiano Ronaldo cleaning their boots.
Jaissle has good pedigree as a young manager but the 38-year-old’s experiences within the Red Bull system and at Al-Ahli will be scant preparation for what he’ll face at St James’ Park in the months ahead.
“There's no doubt this season's going to be a tough one for Newcastle,” said the former Magpies striker. “You can't keep selling your best players in the hope that you're going to get to where you want to get to.”
