Newcastle United have representation at KSI’s brand new Baller League, which officially kicked off in March.
The Baller League is a weekly six-a-side league with an interesting twist: teams can draft in wildcards each week, and a powerplay round which limits teams to just three players or tests each team’s skillsets by playing one vs one.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer is a manager in the Baller League, taking charge of FC Deportrio alongside Rest is Football hosts Gary Lineker and Micah Richards.
Shearer is not the only former Newcastle player to appear in the Baller League; however, Ciaran Clark was drafted by Luis Figo to Trebol FC.
Michael Ndiweni, another ex-Newcastle man, has impressed in his first games in the competition for Maya Jama’s FC Rule The World.
Now, fans got a glimpse of a forgotten Toon man, who at one point looked as if he was destined for greatness, but actions outside of football made that all come crashing down.
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Ex-Newcastle United player Nile Ranger appears in KSI’s Baller League
It will always be a case of what could have been for Nile Ranger. The striker had a fantastic start to life on Tyneside after being brought to the club by Dennis Wise in 2008.
Ranger made his professional debut in the Championship in 2009 and became a first-team regular during that season. He would keep his place for most of the 2010/11 campaign in the Premier League before loan spells at Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday. He left Newcastle by mutual consent on March 2013.
The former England youth star then bounced between different clubs in the Football League before spending two years out of the game for reasons outside football.
- READ MORE – Who is Michael Ndiweni? Meet the former Newcastle United starlet now tearing up KSI’s Baller League
Now at Southern League side Kettering Town, Ranger has branched away from traditional football to appear on the Baller League.
Ranger plays for Santan FC, managed by rapper Dave. The former Newcastle man played his part in the team’s 4-3 win over SDS FC to give Dave his second win in as many weeks.
While his career has gone by the wayside, Ranger had talent but was unable to show it off during his time at Newcastle.
In an interview in 2023, Ranger said he would have been like Erling Haaland if he added ‘nutrition’ to his game and improved his behaviour.
Interestingly, he angered Newcastle fans by criticising them for booing following a home defeat and spelled his name out in £20 notes and posted the photo online.
Nile Ranger’s career after leaving Newcastle United
Ranger left Newcastle having played 51 times in league competition, but he only managed to score twice. Ranger spent a few months out of football before joining Swindon Town, where disciplinary problems caused his contract to be terminated.
The season after, Ranger signed for Blackpool on a one-year deal and had his contract extended following their relegation to League Two. However, his time was marred by controversy, and he left the club in February 2016.
Ranger signed for Southend United shortly after, but again, disciplinary issues continued to impact his career. He was released midway through the 2017/18 campaign.
A stint at Spalding United and a second spell at Southend followed before Ranger played in the FA Cup for Boreham Wood in 2022.
Now playing for Kettering, Ranger has scored nine goals in 17 games. But at 33, there is a slim chance he will be able to rekindle the career many believed he would have.
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