Le Meur reunited with Performance Director Bunce at Newcastle

Le Meur spent almost six years in two spells working for Monaco. From 2016 to 2019 he was the Ligue 1 club’s Head of Sport Science and returned in September 2023 as Director of Performance – replacing Bunce in the role.

Before that, Le Meur was with the French Institute of Expertise and Performance as a Sport Scientist in the research department for five-and-a-half years. He worked with French teams going to the 2016 Rio Olympics, while he was also a consultant for non-Games football and rugby teams.

‘Depth of expertise’

Le Meur has already started in his job with the Magpies, and said on LinkedIn he was “honoured and enthusiastic” about joining the club.

He went on to say that three things had already stood out to him – “People, the Premier League and St James’ Park”.

“[There is] a remarkable depth of expertise across every discipline and, above all, colleagues who collaborate and work in a healthy environment where everyone can bring their own touch,” he said.

“The opportunity to work in this setting and alongside James Bunce, with whom I so much enjoyed working in the past, is what convinced me to take the step.”

On the Premier League, he added: “I had glimpsed this level of intensity on a few occasions in the Champions League, but seeing it repeated every single week is truly impressive.”

And he described the atmosphere at St James’ Park as one “that sends chills down your spine and gives you goosebumps every single time”.

Jaissle replaced Eddie Howe as Newcastle Head Coach last month.

Howe’s Assistants Jason Tindall, Graeme Jones and Stephen Purches and coach Simon Weatherstone also left the club as did Head of Goalkeeping Adam Bartlett.

Jaissle has appointed Alexander Hauser, Engin Yanova and Florens Koch as his Assistants and Maximilan Fischer and Steffen Konrad as Coach/Analysts as well as Alexander Bade as Goalkeeper Coach.