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Newcastle United have been a formidable side in the Premier League since their expensive Saudi takeover, but the Tyneside also used to play some great football in the ‘90s.
Here’s our pick for the best Newcastle United XI of the Premier League era:
Goalkeeper – Shay Given
Newcastle have had their fair share of quality keepers over the years but there is one player who stands head and shoulders above the rest: former Republic of Ireland international Shay Given.
Playing for the Magpies from 1997-2009, Given is fourth in the club’s all-time appearance makers in all competitions, featuring no less than 463 times, and he is arguably one of the best Premier League keepers of all time.
Taking into account his PL time with Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Stoke City and Newcastle, Given managed to keep 113 clean sheets, one of just 17 keepers to have 100-plus shutouts.
Left-back – Olivier Bernard
Olivier Bernard first arrived at St James’ Park in 2000 from Lyon and he quickly became a fans’ favourite, with his energetic performances and attacking runs a delight to watch from the stands.
The Frenchman made over 100 appearances, scoring six goals in the process, although he will also be remembered for being knocked out on the pitch by Laurent Robert’s skewed delivery upfield.
Centre-back – Philippe Albert
Belgian defender Philippe Albert played for Newcastle from 1994-1999 and he became known as an attack-minded centre-back for his forward runs from defence in the team dubbed “the Entertainers”.
The towering defender was part of the team that famously let a 12-point lead slip at the top of the Premier League, allowing Manchester United to clinch the title, but he can always hold that strike in the 5-0 win over the Red Devils in 1996 close to his heart.
Centre-back – Jonathan Woodgate
Jonathan Woodgate may only have been at Newcastle for a season but, when fit, he is arguably the best defender I have ever seen play for the Magpies in the Premier League.
His commanding presence and ability to read the game was exactly what the Magpies needed, having had their fair share of poor defenders prior to Woodgate’s arrival in 2003 from Leeds United.
Injuries ultimately robbed the Englishman of a long, successful career but, saying that, he did get the chance to play for Real Madrid while he won the League Cup with Tottenham in 2008.
Right-back – Warren Barton
This position has been an issue for Newcastle over the past few years and although Mathieu Debuchy and Daryl Janmaat did impress when they were at St James’ Park, it is Warren Barton who gets the nod in our all-time XI.
Yes, the Englishman was never the flashiest player but, at the end of the day, you want your defenders to be able to defend and that is exactly what the right-back did.
Playing for the club from 1995-2002, Barton was a great servant and somebody every manager during his time at Newcastle relied on.
Left midfield – Laurent Robert
You can’t have an all-time XI without the mercurial Laurent Robert, whose fantastic free-kicks, dazzling runs and willingness to shoot from anywhere made him a firm fans’ favourite.
The Frenchman scored some absolute screamers from 2001-2006 and although he could be frustrating at times, he excited the crowd and that is exactly the kind of player supporters like to watch.
Centre midfield – Gary Speed
The late, great Gary Speed is arguably one of the greatest midfielders in English football, having played for Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United.
The Welshman was a genuine leader and a brilliant box-to-box midfielder, while he could play in the front of the back four, pick a pass and was outstanding in the air as he noticed 29 goals for the Magpies.
Centre midfield – Bruno Guimaraes
Bruno Guimaraes was one of the biggest signings in recent Newcastle history. The Brazilian, who arrived from Lyon in January 2022, has been a calming presence on the pitch and developed a formidable partnership with his compatriot Joelinton.
Guimaraes quickly became a fan favourite for his incredible passion for the club. He rarely missed the chance to celebrate with the Geordie crowd, and his commitment to the badge, coupled with his incredible midfield prowess, made him very popular at the club.
Right midfield – Nolberto Solano
Nolberto Solano was such a clever player during his two spells at Newcastle and is arguably one of the most technically-gifted players to have played at St James’ Park.
The Peruvian had a great work rate, brilliant delivery, fantastic finish and was a player that could always be counted on, giving nothing less than 100 per cent each time he took to the pitch.
Striker – Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak drew comparisons with Thierry Henry after his incredible debut campaign with Newcastle in the 2022/23 season. He joined the club for £63 million from Real Sociedad and scored 11 goals across all competitions.
That number might make the Henry comparisons seem exaggerated, but the forward went on to score 20+ goals in back-to-back Premier League seasons afterward. The Sweden international became a frightening sight for Premier League defenders even though he didn’t represent a traditional Big 6 club.
Striker – Alan Shearer
An easy decision to finish off our all-time XI is Alan Shearer getting the final spot. The Gosforth-born star scored 260 Premier League goals before retiring, a record that is still to be beaten, with 148 of these coming for the Magpies.
In total for Newcastle, Shearer netted 206 times from 405 appearances, making him the club’s all-time record goalscorer. He was also capped 63 times for England, who he also captained, scoring 30 goals.
