A great man who hit one of Toon’s great goals

BOSS BENITEZ TRIBUTE AFTER THE SHOCK DEATH OF FORMER ST JAMES’ PARK STAR TIOTE

NEWCASTLE boss Rafa Benitez led the tributes as football mourned tragic Cheick Tiote.

The former Toon midfielder was remembered as a “true professional” by the Spaniard. Tiote’s sudden death, aged 30, stunned the Tyneside club, and the wider football world. Benitez was Tiote’s last boss in England before he moved out to China in February, and said he was a “great man” and “dedicated”. Tiote’s brilliant late 30-yard volley, turning around a 0-4 half-time deficit against Arsenal to draw 4-4, in February 2011, was the highlight of his 150-plus games on Tyneside. At his peak, the Ivorian was a hard-as-nails destroyer on the field. Signed for a bargain £3.5million from FC Twente, he helped Newcastle finish fifth in 2012 and played in Europe. But off the pitch he was a quiet, reserved man with an amusing sense of humour, wry smile, always polite and liked by his team-mates. Tiote last played for Newcastle on January 18 in a 3-1 FA Cup win over Birmingham. The £45,000-aweek star then moved to Beijing Enterprises for a small transfer fee and one last big contract. Benitez said: “It is with great sadness that I have learned of Cheick’s death. “In all the time I have known him, he was a true professional, dedicated and, above all, a great man. Our hearts go out to his family and friends at such a sad time.” Close pal Papiss Cisse said: “Goodnight brother, You will be missed, My heart goes out to your family. Gone too soon.” Tiote had a colourful life. He was one of nine siblings, and family friends say he has more than 50 halfbrothers and sisters, with claims his father had eight wives. On Tyneside he lived with his first wife Madah in a £1.5m home outside Newcastle. She is said to have fainted when discovering on Facebook he had married Laeticia Doukrou on a summer break to the Ivory Coast in 2014. His agent said at the time that taking another wife was not unusual. The football world was united in grief over Tiote’s passing. Keeper Steve Harper said: “Gutted to hear the awful news about my former team-mate Cheick Tiote. Thoughts with his family.” Demba Ba tweeted: “May Allah grant you Jannah brother Tiote.” Vincent Kompany tweeted: “I am speechless and incredibly sad. Cheick was one of the nicest and toughest team-mates.” Joey Barton said Tiote was a “wonderful man who was always laughing and smiling”. Tragically, Tiote suffered a heart attack doing what he loved. Alan Pardew, who managed Tiote to his best performances, said: “I loved him. He’s everything that you want in a Newcastle player. He was a special young man. “It breaks my heart.”