The Rise of Newcastle United
Newcastle's charge to the Champions League has been somewhat of a fantasy story for football fans these past three years. From a team that was struggling with relegation battles, to beating PSG in their first Champions League match at St James Park in twenty years, and doing so with ease, beating the French team 4-1.
To even begin to explain this sudden rise in success we have to go back to October 2021. The team was on a winless run and were on the verge of another relegation battle. The current manager at the time, Steve Bruce, was coming under severe criticism from the fans. They wanted him gone. On the 7th of October, the fans got the news they'd been waiting months for... Saudi Investors in the Public Investment Fund took an 80% stake in the club, with PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben Brothers each taking a further 10% each. This caused excitement around the club’s future, with the fan’s first questions being who would replace Steve Bruce?
On November 8th 2021, the announcement of Eddie Howe becoming Newcastle manager had been made public. This would be a great signing for Newcastle as Eddie Howe had lots of success at his previous club; Bournemouth, saving them from relegation multiple times and proving himself as a top manager. But could he save Newcastle in the 21/22 season?
Howe immediately started to make an impact on the team, mainly because of the transfers he had brought in for the remainder of the season. The biggest signing of that season was Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid for £12 million, plus add-ons. Another massive signing for Newcastle in the 21/22 season was Bruno Guimaraes from Olympique Lyon. These two signings as well as a change in the tactics and formations saw Newcastle saved from relegation, finishing 11th in the table. Things were looking up for the Magpies for the new season.
The 2022 Premier League season brought excitement to the fans of Newcastle as they had hope in Eddie Howe and the team.
To start, a massive transfer happened for the team in the summer, breaking their transfer record. Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad was signed for £63 million. Two other strong signings were brought in as well, Nick Pope from Burnley and Sven Botman for £33 million from Lille. Both would play a pivotal role in Newcastle's success in the new season.
Newcastle had a strong season in 2022, winning games when they needed to and performing defensive masterclasses, which saw them become the best defensive team that season, with Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak and Miguel Almiron upfront, scoring goals consistently. However, before the World Cup began, Isak got injured and would be out for a few months.
After Argentina won the World Cup, Newcastle seemed to be in a slump, failing to score goals when they were needed and losing out on vital points for their charge to the top 4 slots. Eddie Howe needed his goal scorers to perform…
Callum Wilson was Newcastle's first-choice striker before the signing of Isak. Previously from Bournemouth with Eddie Howe, Wilson had become a substitute for most games. With Isak out with an injury however, Wilson was called up to get goals for the team and save them from their goalless slump.
Wilson miraculously scored 18 goals in the space of two months, becoming Newcastle's top scorer for that season, as well as putting Newcastle in a great position for a top 4 finish.
A big transfer rumour was also circulating the Newcastle camp during the winter transfer window. With the Champions League in sight, the board of directors started looking for reinforcements for the team so that if they did reach Champions League football, they’d have strong players on and off the pitch. The main transfer that Newcastle were interested in was Everton’s Anthony Gordon. With Allan Saint-Maximin leaving in the summer to join the Saudi League, Gordon was the first choice to replace the French international. Newcastle had managed to sign Gordon for £45 million from Everton and would be the first of the squad’s reinforcements.
It was nearing the end of the 22/23 season and Newcastle were in arms reach of a top 4 finish, however, rivals Liverpool were also aiming for a top 4 finish. Liverpool had taken advantage of Newcastle’s slump and had worked their way into a closing distance of the Magpies…
The final game of the season for Newcastle was against Leicester. The game could either be won or drawn and it would guarantee the Magpies a place in the 23/24 Champions League for the first time in 20 years. The game ended as a 0-0 draw and Newcastle had done it, they'd sealed Champions League football. They had finished 4 points above Liverpool who were in fifth and made the greatest turnaround in a club’s success in recent years of the sport.