The class of 2010 who back to top flight in
A TON OF REASONS TO CELEBRATE TITLE TRIUMPH
NEWCASTLE United ended the 2009/10 season with 102 points in the bag to ensure they would be crowned champions of English football’s second flight.
The squad – which consisted of younger players and those who decided to stick with the Magpies after relegation – had clinched promotion in April but went on to nudge past a ton of points with a last-day win at Queens Park Rangers.
Here we look at where the team from 2010 are now.
The Easington-born shot-stopper is back at the club but only after completing 20 years of service on Tyneside and enjoying stints at Hull City, Brighton and Sunderland before retirement.
Harper is now a first-team coach on Steve Bruce’s back-room team and has worked with Northern Ireland at international level.
The former Manchester United man turned his loan deal from Old Trafford into a permanent switch during the promotion drive.
A reliable and tenacious competitor, Simpson played for the Magpies in their first season back in the Premier League before a contract wrangle resulted in his exit to QPR.
Simpson went on to win a Premier League winner’s medal with Leicester City.
Now 33, Simpson is plying his trade with Huddersfield Town in the Championship.
If the Premier League relegation season had thrown up questions on why Newcastle paid £10million for Coloccini, the Championship campaign provided all the answers.
In the Fizzy Pop League, Coloccini rediscovered his confidence and won over the fans.
The Argentina international then went on to be captain of the club and, despite leaving in 2016, he was a crowd favourite.
At 38, Coloccini is still turning out for San Lorenzo in Argentina.
The big defender took time to win over supporters but was an important member of Chris Hughton’s squad.
A January signing from cashstrapped Portsmouth, Williamson formed a good partnership with Coloccini in the middle of the back four.
Williamson made 150 appearances for Newcastle before earning a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2016.
The big defender fell out with John Carver over a red card at Leicester in 2015 when he was accused of being sent off on purpose, but both men have made up since then.
Williamson had a stint at Oxford before moving to Gateshead where – at 36 – he is now manager.
The left-back excelled in the Championship and few opponents could live with the former Villarreal player.
He would stay on at Newcastle for another season but had issues with the club over their lack of ambition at boardroom level.
An interview after a defeat at Fulham had to be withdrawn by the Press office after he attacked Mike Ashley for the sale of Andy Carroll.
Months later Enrique set off on a Twitter rant in pre-season, questioning the powers that be again.
He made a £6.3million switch to Liverpool soon after but Newcastle went on to finish fifth that year – something the full-back felt wouldn’t be possible.
Enrique won the League Cup with the Reds in 2012.
After Liverpool, Enrique moved to Real Zaragoza and thankfully in recent times the defender has made a full recovery from a brain tumour.
Routledge was a January signing in 2010 and went on to play his part in the promotion season.
Perhaps his big moment was scoring in the 2-0 win at Plymouth on the night Newcastle clinched the title.
Routledge was used by Chris Hughton in the Premier League but once Alan Pardew came in he sent the winger to QPR on loan before he eventually left the club.
After a much-travelled career, Routledge has finally settled in Swansea and has been with the Liberty Stadium club for nine years.
When the season was suspended Routledge was part of Swansea’s promotion bid from the Championship, and at 35 he is still weighing in with goals, with three to his name so far this term.
Arguably the driving force behind the promotion bid in 2010 for Newcastle.
The outspoken goal-getter formed the players’ committee after relegation and demanded more and more from the squad under the watchful eye of Hughton.
Nolan grabbed 18 goals that season before going on to be appointed captain in the Premier League.
A contract dispute with Alan Pardew and Derek Llambias resulted in his exit on Tyneside and he signed for West Ham where he spent five happy years.
Management stints at Leyton Orient and Notts County followed before Nolan returned to West Ham as coach.
The 37-year-old is also a regular on the punditry scene and still has a big place in his heart for the Geordie fans.
His hat-trick in a 5-1 win against Sunderland is still talked about to this day.
The former Liverpool midfielder probably didn’t sign for Kevin Keegan in 2008 and expect him to be gone within months. Nor did he expect to be playing in the Championship a year later.
But he played his part in the titlewinning season before leaving in 2012.
He played for Reading, Fulham and Blackburn before trying his luck in Indonesia with Mitra Kukar.
Guthrie, 33, is back on UK shores and has been playing for Walsall in League Two.
The Argentina winger could have walked out after relegation but opted to stay on.
His close bond with Enrique and Coloccini formed an important corner of the dressing room.
The trio would celebrate each win in the home dressing room with their own private parties at St James’ Park and were always last to leave the ground.
Jonas played his part in the Premier