Some of Newcastle United’s former stars have gone on to have interesting careers after leaving the club.
In the past, players have been deemed absolute flops but have gone on to win silverware as big as the World Cup or the Champions League.
This was the case for Florian Thauvin who was dreadful at Newcastle United but excelled in France, winning the World Cup with his national team aged 18.
Then there are players like Salomon Rondon who impressed during a loan spell at Newcastle under Rafa Benitez. Rondon was nominated for the World XI years after leaving Newcastle.
Newcastle’s academy has also been known for producing some amazing talents over the years, many of which have done well at other clubs. That was recently the case for Elliot Anderson at Nottingham Forest who could be playing Champions League football once again. Anderson didn’t want to leave Newcastle but has taken the move in his stride and performed brilliantly.
Meanwhile, other players from the academy and the first team perhaps don’t get the opportunity they deserve and are left to pick up their careers after leaving Newcastle.
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Ciaran Clark and Michael Ndiweni drafted in KSI’s Baller League
Former Newcastle star Ciaran Clark was a big part of the team during their 2016/17 promotion season and featured fairly regularly in the Premier League under Benitez and Steve Bruce.
The Irish international left Newcastle at the end of the 2022/23 season, having been loaned out to Sheffield United for the Magpies’ fantastic campaign which saw them qualify for the Champions League.
Now 35, Clark finds himself without a club after being released by Stoke City having made just three appearances last season. With his career winding down, he decided to make the move to KSI’s new Baller League, which officially launched on Monday night.
Clark was drafted in the third round by Trebol FC, managed by Real Madrid and Barcelona legend Luis Figo. The defender will play alongside a range of non-league players, including former Love Island contestant Montel Mckenzie, who also plays for Billericay Town.
His time at Newcastle came to a sad end. In 2023, Clark admitted he hadn’t spoken to any Newcastle players after leaving the club, perhaps a sign of how he felt about his time on Tyneside under Eddie Howe.
He wasn’t the only former Newcastle star to be included in the draft, however, with 21-year-old Michael Ndiweni selected by FC Rule The World, managed by influencer Clint 419, in the first round. Ndiweni made is professional debut for the Magpies in their 4-1 win against Chelsea in November 2023.
Ndiweni looked promising for Newcastle, having impressed in the under-21s before training with the first-team. However, things haven’t worked out well for him since his release. In January, Ndiweni signed for Newcastle Blue Star in the ninth tier of English football.
One of the Baller League teams is also coached by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer alongside Micah Richards and Gary Lineker.
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Newcastle have a lot to thank Ciaran Clark for
While Clark’s time at Newcastle under Howe was shortlived, there was still one moment that fans have to thank him for.
In November 2021, Newcastle played Norwich at St James’ Park and just eight minutes into the game, Clark was shown a straight red card for pulling Teemu Pukki back when he was breaking away.
The sending-off meant that Joelinton was moved into midfield, and the rest was history. The Brazilian went from a down-and-out striker to one of the most feared midfielders in the Premier League, using his pure strength and aggression to his advantage.
Joelinton still uses a lot of his attacking qualities wherever needed, moving into the channels to support the left-wingers. So far this season, Joelinton has scored four goals and bagged one assist but there was no telling whether he would’ve still been a Newcastle player had it not been for that Clark red card.
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