How Newcastle lined up last time they were in Champions League in 2003 as Eddie Howe’s side battle for top four spot
NEWCASTLE are dreaming of Champions League football for the first time since 2003 after beating Tottenham.The victory over the weekend put Eddie Howe’s side into fourth place after 11 games, having lost just once all season.
Bobby Robson’s side finished third in 2003 to set up the Champions League qualifier
Howe has been able to invest heavily since arriving as Toon boss and, with spending set to continue, Newcastle have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
Should they succeed, it will mark a return to the top table of European football for the first time in 19 years.
The late Sir Bobby Robson was in charge in August 2003 when the Magpies lost to Partizan Belgrade in the third qualifying round.
Newcastle won the first leg away 1-0 before losing 4-3 on penalties after the game at St James’ Park ended 1-0 to the Serbian giants after extra-time.
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SunSport takes a look at the team that lost that day, which includes a couple of Newcastle legends.
Shay Given
The former Republic of Ireland international achieved hero status at Newcastle after making 462 appearances in all competitions.
The ex-goalkeeper, 46, now works as a pundit after leaving a coaching role at Derby in the summer, having spent four years with the Rams.
Shay Given works as a pundit following a coaching spell at DerbyCredit: Getty
Aaron Hughes
Hughes, 42, came through the Newcastle academy and played in 279 games for Toon before joining Aston Villa in 2005.
The Northern Irishman actually made 12 appearances in the Champions League and also had spells at Fulham, Hearts and Brighton.
Aaron Hughes became an important defender after graduating from the club’s academyCredit: Pacemaker Press
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Andy O’Brien
He helped Newcastle to a third-place finish in his first season at the club to set up the qualifier with Partizan Belgrade.
The 43-year-old was a mainstay in the team until poor form led to his sale to Portsmouth in 2005.
Andy O’Brien made 172 Toon appearances between 2000-2005Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Jonathan Woodgate
One of the stand-out players in the side, Woodgate had proven his pedigree in Europe by nullifying Didier Drogba in a Uefa Cup semi-final clash against Marseille a few months earlier.
He helped Newcastle to a fifth-place finish in his first full season in 2003-04 before joining Real Madrid.
Woodgate, 42, also had spells at Leeds and Tottenham and managed Middlesbrough, where he has recently returned as a coach under new boss Michael Carrick.
Jonathan Woodgate returned to Middlesbrough as a coach this weekCredit: Getty
Olivier Bernard
The Frenchman, 43, made 102 appearances in his first spell at the club between 2000-2005.
He returned in 2006 but injury cut short his career and he never made another appearance.
Bernard blamed former Toon boss Graeme Souness for his early retirement and the ex-defender has since worked with Show Racism the Red Card, an anti-racism education charity.
Olivier Bernard was forced to retire through injury aged 27Credit: EPA
Nolberto Solano
The Peruvian, 47, was a cult hero in the North East and also had two spells at the club, between 1998-2004 and 2005-07.
He made 314 appearances for Newcastle in total, scoring 48 goals and helping Toon to an Intertoto Cup win in 2006.
Nolberto Solano achieved cult hero status at the MagpiesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Gary Speed
Speed was a prominent figure for both Newcastle and Wales during his spell in the North East, and he twice finished as an FA Cup runner-up with the Magpies in 1998 and 1999.
He sadly passed away in 2011 aged just 42, while he was manager of Wales.
Gary Speed is fondly remembered for his spell at NewcastleCredit: AFP
Hugo Viana
Injuries disrupted the Portuguese star during his time at the club and he was limited to 39 Prem appearances between 2002-04.
Viana, 39, is now director of football at Sporting Lisbon and tried to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.
Hugo Viana is director of football at Sporting LisbonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Kieron Dyer
Dyer, 43, played 250 times for Newcastle between 1999-2007.
He is perhaps most well known for his infamous fight with former team-mate Lee Bowyer during a 3-0 loss to Aston Villa, but he also won 33 England caps thanks to his good form for Toon.
Since retiring Dyer has appeared on TV shows I’m a Celebrity and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and became manager of Ipswich Under-23s before resigning in March.
Kieron Dyer was named in the 2002-03 Premier League team of the yearCredit: Getty
Alan Shearer
The Newcastle legend, 52, unfortunately made only ten Champions League appearances with Newcastle and never won a major honour.
But the Match of the Day pundit did secure his place as the club’s record scorer with 206 goals in 405 games before hanging up his boots in 2006.
He returned for a failed stint as Toon interim manager in 2009 in which he was unable to prevent the club from relegation.
Alan Shearer is Newcastle’s record goalscorer but he could not fire them into the Champions League in 2003Credit: Getty
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Shola Ameobi
Another popular figure at St James’ Park, Ameobi made 397 appearances for the club after rising through the ranks, scoring 79 goals.
He returned to the Magpies in 2019 as loan co-ordinator, a role the 41-year-old still holds.
Shola Ameobi is now loan co-ordinator at NewcastleCredit: Getty More
