Graeme Souness shares why Newcastle United stint ended his managerial career early

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Former Newcastle United boss Graeme Souness has opened up on his departure from St James’ Park back in 2006.

Eddie Howe guided Newcastle United to a trophy last season, winning the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

Many before him had tried and failed to bring major silverware back to St James’ Park, including Graeme Souness.

The Scot became Newcastle boss in 2004, leaving Blackburn Rovers for a move to Tyneside.

Michael Owen arrived at Newcastle in 2005, alongside flops Jean-Alain Boumsong and Albert Luque, before Souness was axed in February 2006.

Graeme Souness on Newcastle United

Souness is a big name in the game, and he had enjoyed a strong four-and-a-half-year spell in charge of Blackburn.

Newcastle came calling for Souness to replace Magpies favourite Sir Bobby Robson, but the move just didn’t work out.

Souness finished 14th in his one full season in charge of Newcastle, and he left St James’ Park with the Magpies six points above the drop zone.

Injuries were a constant problem throughout the Souness era, and he has reflected on his decision to quit Blackburn.

Speaking on Blackburn’s official YouTube channel for a ‘Tales from the Dugout’ evening, Souness admitted to being incredibly tempted by the Newcastle job.

Souness had previously been at Middlesbrough and had an understanding of the size of the job at hand.

Souness admitted that he didn’t enjoy managing Newcastle ‘at all’, and even claimed that working with the people at St James’ Park ultimately finished his managerial career.

“See, I spent four years in the North East when I was at Middlesbrough, I knew Newcastle was a very, very big football club and I was tempted by it,” said Souness.

“I’ve maybe been guilty of taking jobs without doing any real due diligence, not asking questions, because I always had great belief in my own ability, and that was one… you just didn’t touch it.

“When you look at the kind of managers they had before and not managed to bring them success… I know Eddie Howe has done it now, but prior to last year, the last time they won a trophy I think, was 1968. That’s a hell of a long time.

“Kevin spent a couple of years there, but I didn’t enjoy that job at all. It was partly because of the people I was working for. That’s important. You got to have a relationship with them, otherwise it doesn’t work. I knew exactly where I stood every minute of every day [at Blackburn]. I knew exactly where I stood at this football club.

“Yeah, because Newcastle just finished me. I just thought I don’t want to be answerable to those kinds of people ever again,” he added when asked if his managerial career would have gone on longer if he hadn’t moved to Newcastle.

Graeme Souness was open to Newcastle United return

Souness didn’t enjoy his time at Newcastle, but he did actually admit to being open to returning.

Sam Allardyce lost his job as Newcastle boss in January 2008, just about two years after Souness departed.

Mike Ashley’s takeover left Souness open to the job, as he seemingly had no interest in working for Freddy Shepherd again.

“With [there now being] a different chairman, most certainly,” said Souness when asked about returning to Newcastle.

“In a heartbeat. It is a big club, one of the big clubs out there. It has got the potential to be one of the best. But it’s not a quick fix, and whoever goes in there is going to need certainly a minimum of three or four years,” he added.

Souness not only didn’t return to Newcastle, but also didn’t even return to management again, as he turned to punditry.

The Scot was seemingly scarred by his time at Newcastle, and may well wish he had stayed at Blackburn instead.