Newcastle United fans can get used to calling themselves champions after winning the Carabao Cup on Sunday.
It was a memorable occasion and one that Eddie Howe’s side thoroughly deserved to win. Newcastle United are officially trophy winners again after a 56-year wait.
Fans had to go back even further for the last time they won a Wembley final before Sunday’s heroics, but now the long wait is all forgiven. Dan Burn and Alexander Isak was tremendous for Newcastle, scoring the two goals the Magpies needed to lift the Carabao Cup and ensure a late comeback attempt from Liverpool was all in vain.
An emotional Bruno Guimaraes revealed a message from Alan Shearer before the game, simply asking him to bring the cup back to Tyneside. He did exactly that.
The win also means that Newcastle have qualified for Europe next season – they will play Europa Conference League football at least but can still qualify for the Champions League if they push on until the end of the Premier League campaign.
There were many Newcastle figures, past and present at the game including Andy Carroll who shared a fantastic moment with his former teammates after the win.
Photo by Malcolm Couzens - WBA/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images
Photo by Malcolm Couzens – WBA/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images
Andy Carroll reunites with Newcastle United stars
Carroll enjoyed two spells on Tyneside, coming through Newcastle’s academy before signing for Liverpool in 2011. The 36-year-old returned to Newcastle under Steve Bruce in 2019, but only scored once in 37 Premier League appearances.
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Newcastle fans still appreciate Carroll, despite the striker breaking Geordie’s hearts when he joined Liverpool and it’s clear that his former teammates share a love for him as well.
The Newcastle cult hero got his pre-match prediction spot on as well, Carroll thought Newcastle would beat Liverpool 2-1 and that’s exactly what happened.
He also revealed in an interview with Sky Sports that he would be at Wembley for the final, although he had to convince the Bordeaux head coach to let him leave straight after their game on Saturday.
In a video from BBC 5 Live Sport, Carroll can be seen embracing Callum Wilson, Mark Gillespie and Joelinton as the players head up to the stands, surely Carroll would’ve wished he could’ve experienced a moment like that in his career.
How is Andy Carroll doing at his new club?
Carroll has bounced from club to club since leaving the Magpies in 2021. However, Carroll didn’t want to leave Newcastle – he could’ve been managed by Howe if he was able to stay a bit longer.
The striker spent part of the 2021/22 season at Reading before signing for West Brom under Bruce. Carroll returned to reading for the 2022/23 season before joining Ligue 2 side Amiens the season after.
Now, Carroll plays for Bordeaux, who are now in the fourth tier of French football following financial ruin. So far this campaign, the 36-year-old has scored eight goals in 13 league games and is loving life in his new surroundings.
Perhaps his career would’ve gone in a different direction if he opted to stay at Newcastle past 2011, but the Geordie lad will still never forget the time he spent at his boyhood club.