Matthias Jaissle has completed his first month as Newcastle United head coach, overseeing an unbeaten start that has lifted the club to sixth in the Premier League. The 38-year-old German, who joined from Saudi side Al-Ahli for a £10 million buyout, has recorded two wins and a draw in his opening three matches, a run detailed in a report by Daily Mail Sport.
Newcastle's current league standing of sixth, with four points from one win and one draw, provides a solid platform. They are just two points behind leaders Manchester City and have a positive goal difference of two, having scored four and conceded two. The team's next challenge is an away trip to face Leeds United on September 14th.
Jaissle's approach has been hands-on and intense from day one. He arrives at the training ground at 7:30am and, during his initial fortnight, would often leave under cover of darkness after long days. His commitment extends to personal fitness, with the manager conducting double gym sessions daily; journalists observed him bench pressing 25kg dumbbells during his second workout of one particular day.
On the pitch, he has implemented clear tactical rules, penalising backward passes in certain zones during training sessions to encourage proactive play. His three non-negotiable values for the squad are trust, respect, and pure commitment. Jaissle has also made a point of connecting with the wider club, holding a town hall meeting with all staff and writing a personal letter to each employee upon his arrival, acknowledging the work of his predecessor Eddie Howe.
The early signs are positive. Following a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, secured with a goal from Anthony Elanga, forward Yoane Wissa called Jaissle "our best signing of the summer." The manager himself has been pleased with what he's seen, stating, "I remember one or two training sessions where I had a huge smile on my face afterwards."
One player who particularly impressed Jaissle during pre-season was 21-year-old midfielder Valentin Atangana, but Newcastle chiefs ultimately decided against pursuing a move for him from Al-Ahli. The manager's deadpan humour has also become a feature, such as when he joked about Nick Woltemade's struggles being psychological by adding, "I don’t know, I’m not a psychologist."
Adapting to life in the North East has brought its own challenges and joys. When asked about the biggest hurdle, Jaissle quipped, "The biggest challenge is your dialect… and driving on the left side." He has already begun exploring local cuisine, with his most recent restaurant reservation being at Riley’s Fish Shack in Tynemouth, a contrast to former manager Graeme Souness's tradition of booking a table at Sale Pepe in Jesmond.
His partner, Lisa Czetsch, joined in the celebrations after Newcastle's Carabao Cup win over West Bromwich Albion, dancing at the reception in St James' Park. Jaissle has also questioned some Premier League norms, expressing surprise at the yellow card limit for touchline bans by exclaiming, "Only three?!" and noting, "I had a longer touchline in Saudi Arabia, my GPS was quite high…"
With the international break underway, the focus shifts to preparation for the visit to Elland Road. The match against eighth-placed Leeds is a key fixture as Jaissle looks to maintain his strong start. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full fixtures list on the club site. The manager's mantra last month was 'control the controllables', a philosophy he will need as the season's demands intensify. The club's hierarchy, including chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, sporting director Ross Wilson, and chief executive David Hopkinson, will be monitoring the team's development closely. Newcastle United play Leeds away on Monday, September 14th.
