Newcastle United are set to bolster their backroom team with the appointment of Martin Mark as their new set-piece coach ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Softfootball can confirm.
The 31-year-old arrives from Danish outfit FC Midtjylland, where his innovative and analytical approach to dead-ball situations has drawn widespread praise. Mark has been on Newcastle’s radar for some time, with his track record in Denmark catching the attention of key decision-makers at St. James’ Park.
The Athletic reported that Newcastle had explored several options in recent months as part of their continued push to strengthen Eddie Howe’s coaching staff with specialized expertise, and Mark Martin is the next for the Magpies.
The club has been actively reshaping its structure, creating bespoke roles across performance and tactical departments. That process saw James Bunce appointed as performance director last summer, while the first-team coaching setup has also evolved.
Kieran Taylor, the club’s senior set-piece analyst, is already highly regarded within the technical team, while Stephen Purches and Jason Tindall both contribute to Newcastle’s work on dead-ball routines. Mark is expected to bring additional tactical clarity and innovation to the group, with an emphasis on both attacking and defensive structures from set plays.
Having joined Midtjylland’s academy setup in 2017, Mark was promoted to head of set pieces in 2022. Under his guidance, the club secured the Danish Superliga title in 2024 and followed it with a second-place finish last season. His data-driven, process-oriented approach to set pieces aligns closely with Newcastle’s broader footballing philosophy under Howe and sporting director Dan Ashworth.
The Magpies are preparing for a crucial campaign as they return to the UEFA Champions League for 2025-26 following a fifth-place finish in the Premier League. They also ended a 70-year wait for silverware by defeating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final back in March, a triumph that underscored the team’s upward trajectory.
In a bid to strengthen the squad, Softfootball reported that Newcastle United are considering PSV Eindhoven forward Johan Bakayoko as a backup option if their move for primary target Antony Elanga falls through.
The Magpies are edging closer to sealing a deal for the Swedish winger, pending a final agreement on the transfer fee with Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Mark’s appointment is another step forward as Newcastle continues to lay the foundations for long-term success, both domestically and on the European stage.
