On February 5th 2011, Newcastle did the unthinkable.
It was the start of a new era at Newcastle, and it looked like it was getting off to the worst possible start.
Andy Carroll had joined Liverpool just days earlier. Then Alan Pardew’s side found themselves 4-0 down to Arsenal after just 26 minutes.
The Gunners were running riot, while Newcastle were doing their best to keep the score down.
In the second half, something magical happened.
Newcastle complete one of the greatest comebacks ever
An early red card in the second half for Abou Diaby gave Newcastle a chance, but still a comeback seemed unlikely.
A 68th minute penalty from Joey Barton got the ball rolling, as some Toon fans began to dream.
Then Leon Best got another back to set up a blockbuster final 15 minutes.
A dubious penalty allowed Barton to get his second – as St James’ Park began to believe the impossble was possible.
In the 87th minute, their wildest dreams came true. A Barton free kick was cleared, and fell to Cheick Tiote on the edge of the area.
The Ivory Coast international thundered home a volley to make it 4-4, as St James’ Park erupted.
The scenes on the pitch and in the stands were incredible. The comeback was complete.
Newcastle nearly won it soon after via Kevin Nolan, but instead had to settle for what looked like an unlikely point.
10 years on from that incredible afternoon, let’s look at where the starting XI are now.
Steve Harper
The man with the best elbow drop in the north east retired in 2016, and is now a part of Steve Bruce’s coaching setup.
Danny Simpson
Simpson is now a free agent after being released by Huddersfield in the summer. The defender also does punditry for MUTV.
Mike Williamson
Iron Mike never made it to Brazil, but he is still in the north east as player-manager for Gateshead in the National League North.
Fabricio Coloccini
The former Toon skipper is still playing at the age of 39, lining up for San Lorenzo in Argentina.
Jose Enrique
The Spanish left-back retired in 2017 due to a knee injury, and in 2019 he recovered from a brain tumour.
Joey Barton
The man who scored two penalties on that day against Arsenal is now in management, but was relieved of his duties at Fleetwood Town earlier this year.
Cheick Tiote
Tiote scored his one and only Newcastle goal against Arsenal, and what a goal it was. He left the club 2017 to join Beijing Enterprises, but sadly passed away on June 5th 2017 after suffering a cardiac arrest in training.
Kevin Nolan
The captain 10 years ago is still in the Premier League today, working as a coach for David Moyes at West Ham.
Jonas Gutierrez
A Newcastle hero and cancer survivor. Gutierrez is still playing back in Argentina for Banfield.
Peter Lovenkrands
We got him on a free from Germany. Lovenkrands had been working as a coach for Rangers, but left in June last year with the intention of working in Japan. However, that is yet to happen due to travel restrictions amid the global pandemic.
Leon Best
The scorer of Newcastle’s second, Leon Best has been without a club since January 2018, although there’s no confirmation of his retirement.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
