The video of Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has been doing the rounds on social media.
Newcastle thought they had blown their chances after losing 1-0 to Everton on the final day of the Premier League season, however a favour from Manchester United, who beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Old Trafford, ensured Eddie Howe’s finished inside the top five places on goal difference.
After supporters left St James’ Park, Guimaraes returned to the pitch and carried out the gesture, which acts as a thank you to God when a wish is granted. Champions League qualification was the cherry on top of the cake after the 27-year-old captained the Magpies to their first domestic trophy in 70 years in March.
Bruno Guimaraes gesture after Newcastle United secure Champions League qualification
Guimaraes, like many Brazilian players, is a devout Christian. It mirrored former Leeds United winger Raphinha's knee-walk at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium three years ago when the Whites managed to stave off relegation on the final day of the season.
The Brazil international later revealed he did so in order to show gratitude to God for granting him his wish that Leeds would remain in the Premier League.
Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie captured the Guimaraes moment on camera, later posting the clip on social media: "Here’s Bruno Guimaraes at the end of the game on Sunday…" he wrote.
"Walking up and down the length of the St James’ Park pitch on his knees like he promised — thanking God for the Carabao Cup & for Champions League qualification.
"It was just a few hundred more yards for the midfielder, who ran 261 miles last season — 19 miles more than any other player in the @premierleague."
Among those to reply to the post was former Newcastle co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who was still at the club when they paid £40million to sign the midfielder from Lyon in January 2022.
Ghodoussi wrote: “A man’s character makes the difference.”
Why do players perform the gesture?
The knee walk is a traditional demonstration of humility and thankfulness, particularly after a great triumph, or when an individual believes their prayers have been answered.
"Enduring the discomfort of kneeling to pray, walking on the knees, or walking barefoot are all part of a very long Christian tradition of worship and showing thankfulness and humility before God," said a spokesperson.
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"People of many cultures and faiths remove their shoes or kneel in a holy place. It’s certainly always been an element Catholic pilgrimages. We have an Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to England’s National Catholic Shrine at Walsingham, where some pilgrims walk the last mile barefoot. At the site of Our Lady of Fatima’s Shrine in Portugal, pilgrims walk or crawl the last couple of hundred metres of hard marble pathway on their knees.
"They’re not doing it for attention or to be masochistic; for many it’s an act of faith and self-sacrifice for the pain Jesus suffered for us on the Cross. It’s also a small way some can feel solidarity with the hardships and humiliations of people experiencing poverty or oppression across the world – or simply just a way of humbly giving thanks for prayers answered.”
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