Former England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey extraordinarily asked to leave both Liverpool and Newcastle United, who face off in the Premier League on Wednesday evening
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Updated 13:50, 04 Dec 2024
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Jonjo Shelvey has no regrets about leaving Liverpool and Newcastle
Jonjo Shelvey has no regrets about leaving Liverpool and Newcastle
(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Liverpool take a trip to Newcastle for their latest in a non-stop run of gruelling fixtures tonight. But the Reds continue to go from strength to strength with Arne Slot leading them nine points clear atop the Premier League table, having dispatched rivals Manchester City 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, meanwhile, are 15 points behind in 11th place ahead of the match at 7:30pm. One player who might be keeping an eye on his two former clubs from afar is Jonjo Shelvey.
The maverick central-midfielder now plays for Eyupspor in the Turkish Super Lig, having signed for the fourth-placed side from Nottingham Forest back in August following a season-long loan with Caykur Rizespor. It marks a complete change of pace for the former England international compared to the fast and furious nature of the Premier League, where he made an impressive 278 appearances for Liverpool, Swansea City, Newcastle and Forest.
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Shelvey, who at one point was regarded as one of the best young talents in the country, secured his big move to Anfield in the summer of 2010, joining from his boyhood club Charlton for £1.7million. And 23 top flight goals, 27 assists and five red cards later, the 32-year-old doesn’t regret how he left either Liverpool or Newcastle.
He began by telling Sky Sports in 2020: "My career could have been a lot better, to be honest with you. Don't get me wrong, by the time I finish I will have had a fantastic career. But you do sit there sometimes and think, 'could I have gone higher? Could I have been playing in the Champions League?'
"Hopefully one day I still will, but time's running out now. You go back in the past and you've probably made certain decisions that were wrong."
Young boys of BERN, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jonjo Shelvey of Liverpool celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Europa League match between BSC Young Boys and Liverpool FC at Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf on September 20, 2012 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) goggle eyes goal celebration
Shelvey could have achieved far more with Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Shelvey made encouraging progress at Liverpool as a cultured yet combative youngster, being rewarded with his first international cap against San Marino in October 2012. He admits he probably made the wrong call to go against Brendan Rodgers’ advice, leaving for Swansea in search of more regular football. However, he still has no regrets.
"I was only 21 when I left," he explained. "I wasn't happy playing one or two games then coming out of the team. I wanted to carry on playing week in, week out. When you're playing once and then not playing for six games, I don't care what any footballer says, you don't feel involved. You don't feel part of the team.
"I think that was the feeling I wanted but, in hindsight, should I have stayed? Probably, yeah. Even if it was only for another year or two, just to see how things changed. But it is what it is at the end of the day. Every decision I've made in my career was just to play, to try and get as much game-time as possible. I can't say I've got too many regrets."
Shelvey was warned against leaving Liverpool too soon by Brendan Rodgers
Shelvey was warned against leaving Liverpool too soon by Brendan Rodgers
Shelvey has one FA Cup runners-up medal from his time at Liverpool from the 2011/2012 campaign. He found himself wearing the Magpies' colours when he signed for £12m in January 2016 - but was relegated in his first season.
The central midfielder played a crucial role the following campaign, making 47 appearances in all competitions as Newcastle earned promotion to the top flight by winning the Championship. After seven years and 202 appearances in the north east, he once again made the decision to persuade his manager - this time Howe - to allow him to leave in early 2023.
He bid the fans an emotional farewell at St James’ Park after the EFL Cup semi-final win over Southampton. Shelvey was there long enough to witness the Saudi Arabia-led takeover. Despite stating that the manager was “brilliant” for him, the injury-plagued veteran sought a new challenge, though Howe initially refused to let him leave.
Shelvey persuaded Eddie Howe to let him leave Newcastle
Shelvey persuaded Eddie Howe to let him leave Newcastle
He told The Guardian: “It was hard leaving but I can’t say I regret leaving. I’m happy for whatever they [Newcastle] do. I hope they win the final and get into Europe.
“Eddie said he couldn’t let me go at first and then I sort of pleaded with him to let me go. He said he would sleep on it but then he said he would only let me go if they could get one in. I said I needed to leave for a fresh start and put my points across, and the next day he pulled me, we had a little chat and he granted my wish. Eddie said he wouldn’t stand in the way of my happiness.”
His time at Forest was hampered by more injuries and, after falling out with manager Steve Cooper, he failed to make any further appearances. He was left out of Forest’s 2023/24 pre-season camp and was not given a squad number for the season, leading him to take up a new adventure in Turkey.