How Newcastle United performed the last time they tried to retain a trophy amid Carabao Cup defence

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Newcastle United are defending their Carabao Cup crown in the 2025-26 season, but how did they fare the last time they were aiming to retain a trophy?

History was made in 2025 as Newcastle United’s decades-long wait for a trophy was finally brought to an end.

Eddie Howe guided the club to victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, thanks to goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak.

The celebrations it sparked will last long in the memory, though fans will be hoping it isn’t quite as long a wait for the next time they can enjoy them.

Newcastle’s last trophy triumph had come in 1969, when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. 56 years is a long time to wait for a taste of glory.

The Magpies will be aiming to ensure that nowhere near as many years go by before the next piece of silverware is added to the collection, with the Carabao Cup offering the first chance to do so.

But how did Newcastle fare the last time they tried defending a trophy, all the way back in the 1969-70 season?

• Carabao Cup 2025-26 – Fixtures and results as Newcastle United defend trophy

How Newcastle United’s Inter-Cities Fairs Cup defence went

The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European trophy initially designed to promote international trade fairs and competed for between clubs from cities that held them. Though there was a ‘only one club per city’ rule, leading to a London XI competing with a collection of players from different London clubs in its early stages.

This unique format didn’t last, and teams began to qualify for it off league position in its seventh edition in 1964.

Newcastle entered the competition for the first time in the 1968-69 season and ran out champions, defeating Feyenoord, Sporting, Zaragoza, Vitoria, Rangers and finally Ujpest to lift the trophy.

Newcastle returned to compete the following season and enjoyed another strong run, but were eventually eliminated by Anderlecht in the quarter-finals.

Though they won 3-1 at St. James’ Park, they lost 2-0 in Brussels and were eliminated on away goals.

Here are their results from the tournament.

Newcastle will have to perform better than they did half a century ago if they wish to win the Carabao Cup again this season.

The Magpies returned to Inter-Cities Fairs Cup competition in its final iteration the following campaign, but were eliminated by Hungarian side Pecsi Dozsa in the second round after defeating Inter in the opening tie.

Have Newcastle United ever retained a trophy?

So that does pose the question, have Newcastle ever managed to retain a trophy in their long history?

Thankfully, they have! Though you obviously have to go a long way back and it has only happened once.

A Jackie Milburn-inspired Newcastle defeated Blackpool 2-0 in the 1951 FA Cup final before returning a year later to defeat Arsenal 1-0 thanks to George Robledo’s late winner.

Newcastle dominated the first division over 100 years ago in the 1900s, but were unable to retain the league title. They were crowned champions of England in 1905, 1907 and 1909 but didn’t even finish as runners-up in any of the years after a triumph.

Technically, Newcastle did retain the Texaco Cup in 1975 after winning it in 1974, but that is a minor trophy and isn’t really counted on the list of club honours.