Geordie was in fine spirits as he checked in for Scotland duty - just hours after his beloved Newcastle ended a 70-year wait for a major trophy in England.
06:00, 18 Mar 2025
John Carver
John Carver checked in for Scotland duty on Sunday night knowing the Toon Army legions were kicking off the party of a lifetime south of the border.
Now he’s determined to ensure the Tartan Army have reason for a knees-up - and ensure him missing out on the celebrations after Newcastle’s historic 2-1 Carabao Cup Final victory over Liverpool wasn’t for nothing. The Scotland assistant reckons he must be the only Geordie on the planet that never got to raise a glass to his beloved Magpies after they ended a 70-year wait to lift one of English football’s major trophies.
Article continues below
The Newcastle-daft 60-year-old has never known his club to lift one of the big three trophies. But after dumping the Anfield side - including Scotland skipper Andy Robertson - the party on Tyneside is set to last for days.
Sunday’s Wembley glory was a welcome distraction from the turmoil of Carver’s day job with Polish side Lechia Gdansk where a relegation battle has been further complicated by a potential player revolt over wages. But there was no wiping the smile off his face as he sat down for media duties before the squad fly out to Athens for the first leg of the Nations League play-off double header against Greece.
Carver, who had three different spells as caretaker boss of Newcastle, said: “I think I'm the only Geordie that didn't really celebrate properly because obviously we met up on Sunday night. I was gutted not to be there because I've been there with a team and not won and been there as a supporter and not won.
“So to see them win on TV was quite incredible, really emotional. We deserved it, we deserved to win.
We played really well and more importantly it was a good result for football because the way our fans support the football club, they deserve it more than anybody. They've stuck by them through thick and thin and there's been lots of thick and thin but I think they enjoyed the occasion.
(Image: Getty Images)
“They'll party all week, don't worry about that, I'll miss that but they deserve it. It's put a big smile on my face. It's good preparation for our game against Greece."
While Carver celebrated, Scotland skipper Robertson was left crestfallen. But the assistant coach insists Robbo - and Liverpool's - time to party is only a matter of weeks away
He said: “I’m disappointed for Andy Robertson obviously but my heart is black and white and we'll have a chat about it. Andy's a very good professional and it'll take him a day or so to get over the disappointment.
“But you know what's really good for Andy is he won't have to wait 70 years for the next trophy. They're only a few months away from picking up the Premier League and I'm sure they're going to do that. Andy will have his day in May to celebrate I'm sure.”
Carver missed seeing his team end a lifetime wait for silverware. But while a question mark hangs over his Hampden future given his role in Gdasnk, he’d still love to see a generation of Scotland fans’ wait to reach a World Cup Finals end this year.
He said: “Well, it would be amazing, but there's a long time to go before we actually get to talking about the World Cup. We've got this Nations League play-off to attack. Once we get past that let's see.
“But the emotions of Sunday are the best feelings in football and you want that. We had it when we qualified for the Euros, we had the disappointment when we lost the play-off game against Ukraine for the World Cup. So I could do with some more nice times and some enjoyment like Sunday. So let's see what happens.
“Like I said, there's a long way to go before we get to that, but if we do manage to make it it'll be one of the best feelings ever.”
Carver sprang a surprise back in November when he was named the new manager of Lechia Gdansk. January and February brought an upturn in results but four successive defeats have seen them plunge to second bottom of the Ekstraklasa.
And his problems have mounted with his young squad reportedly threatening to go on strike because the financially-troubled club are booked on a training camp in Dubai - despite wages having gone unpaid.
Carver admitted: “Because of the situation they’re in, I would rather have been there with them and trying to get out of this issue. But I wasn't going to let Steve down.
"The club knew my position, they knew I was coming here, they knew I'm committed 100 per cent to Scotland at this period in time.
“Obviously I'll have to keep in touch and find out what's going on. That might be right about the players on the trip to Dubai. But obviously I'm here and I'm going to concentrate on the situation and then I'll have to deal with the fallout when I get back.
“My future with Scotland? To be honest I've stayed away from anything after May. I'll make my mind up and the club might make my mind up for me because if they get relegated they might want somebody else.
"My contract only ends in May. So let's see what happens with regard to that. But for me I'm concentrating on what's happening now here because it can affect this.”
Article continues below