The former England striker agreed to join Sunderland in 2009 but signed for Tottenham instead
Former player Peter Crouch looks on after the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at St Mary's Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Southampton, England.
Peter Crouch nearly joined Sunderland - but had dreams of playing for the Magpies(Image: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
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Peter Crouch has confessed he wished he had signed for Newcastle despite having agreed a deal to join arch-rivals Sunderland.
The Tyne-Wear derby returns on Sunday with a 12:30pm kick off as Newcastle lick their wounds following an 8-3 aggregate loss to Barcelona in the Champions League. Both teams are sitting within two points of one another, with the Magpies above their rivals in the top end of the Premier League table.
Even though Crouch was close to joining Sunderland back in his playing days, he always dreamed of turning out in Newcastle's famous black and white strip.
The former Premier League striker represented a number of clubs in England's top division, including Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Tottenham and Stoke City. But a potential move to St James' Park never materialised, much to Crouch's disappointment.
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A transfer to the north east seemed likely in 2009 when he had settled terms to sign for Sunderland. The ex-England star visited the training ground, met then-manager Steve Bruce and even viewed houses in anticipation of a move from Portsmouth.
Peter Crouch of Tottenham celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between SV Werder Bremen and Tottenham Hotspur at Weser Stadium on September 14, 2010 in Bremen, Germany.
Crouch ended up joining Tottenham instead(Image: Joern Pollex/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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It was during his journey home that the 44-year-old received a call from former boss Harry Redknapp who wanted him to sign for Tottenham Hotspur. The pair had previously worked together at Portsmouth and Southampton.
Redknapp got his wish with Crouch relocating to north London for a fee of £10million. Years after the transfer saga, Crouch was quick to respond when asked to name one club he wished he had played for.
"I reckon there's something special about being Newcastle's number nine," Crouch said. "Whenever I go up there, I feel like it's a football city and when I think of the old centre forwards that have performed well for Newcastle, you're like the hero, aren't you?
"If I had scored goals for Newcastle... Even the music before the game they play up at Newcastle. I've always enjoyed playing as an away player there.
"They understand football. They live and breathe it. If I had gone in just after that Alan Shearer phase, I would have been at a good age then, but these things don't work out.
"It's all hypothetical, but if I had to pick one club to play for, it would have been Newcastle."
Alan Shearer(left) and Kevin Gallacher of Newcastle celebrate after Gallacher had put United 2-0 ahead during the Premiership match between Coventry and Newcastle United at Highfield Road, Coventry.
Following in Shearer's footsteps would have been a monumental task(Image: Stu Forster/ALLSPORT)
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The honour of being Newcastle's leading striker is one Shearer experienced for a decade and something he aspired to as he grew up supporting the club.
Speaking in 2019 at NBC's Premier League Mornings Live event, the former England striker said: "I grew up in Newcastle supporting and going to St James' Park.
"The No. 9 is an iconic number for the people of Newcastle United. Jackie Milburn was my dad's hero, Malcolm McDonald, all these No. 9s that have had it, and I just felt that if I was going back there I'd love to have that No. 9 shirt.
"That's the reason I asked Les, and he kindly said I could have it. It wasn't a deal-breaker, it wouldn't have mattered if he'd said no, but he very kindly said yes. For me to wear the No. 9 shirt was a great honour."