1998–99 Newcastle United F.C. season

In the 1998–99 season, Newcastle United competed in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons). Newcastle's season was an almost carbon copy of the one before. They finished 13th in the Premiership and lost in the FA Cup final to enter Europe because the winning side had already qualified for the Champions League.

Newcastle United
1998–99 season
ChairmanDavid Cassidy (until 18 December 1998)
Freddy Shepherd (from 20 December 1998)
ManagerKenny Dalglish
(until 27 August 1998)
Ruud Gullit
(from 27 August 1998)
StadiumSt James' Park
Premier League13th
Cup Winners' CupFirst round
FA CupRunners-up
League CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Alan Shearer (14)

All:
Alan Shearer (21)
Average home league attendance36,665

Just after the season started, Kenny Dalglish paid for Newcastle's sub-standard league performances with his job. The task was given to Ruud Gullit to turn things round, but he could not improve on the club's previous league finish of 13th. A dismal league position put them below local rivals Middlesbrough as well as other unfancied sides including Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday.

Season summary

Ruud Gullit

A poor start to the 1998–99 season led to Kenny Dalglish being sacked.[1] Ruud Gullit, a trophy winning manager with Chelsea a few years previously, was put in charge.[2] The team again started promisingly, but was knocked out of the Cup Winners' Cup in the first round.

Gullit made some high-profile mistakes in the transfer market (notably, Spanish defender Marcelino and forward Silvio Maric bore the brunt of supporters frustrations). Less forgivably, he also fell out with several senior players, including the club captain Rob Lee, who had been the heartbeat of the team for the previous half decade, and was initially not given a squad number.[3]

Newcastle made it to the 1998–99 FA Cup final, their second final in successive seasons. This time around they were to lose to Manchester United 2–0.[4]

Because the FA Cup winners had already won European qualification, this meant Newcastle reached Europe for the fourth season running: this time the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup, due to the discontinuation of the Cup Winners' Cup.

Gullit resigned shortly after the start of the 1999–2000 season.[5]

Off the pitch, controversy was caused when former chairman Freddy Shepherd, who had been forced to resign due to controversy over remarks made in the press the previous season, successfully manoeuvred to reinstate himself to the position within less than a year.

Transfers

In

DatePos.NameFromFee
June 1998MF Georgios Georgiadis Panathinaikos£500,000
June 1998GK Lionel Pérez SunderlandFree
June 1998FW Stéphane Guivarc'h Auxerre£3,500,000
July 1998DF Carl Serrant Oldham Athletic£500,000
July 1998MF Garry Brady Tottenham Hotspur£650,000
July 1998DF Laurent Charvet Cannes£750,000
August 1998MF Dietmar Hamann Bayern Munich£4,500,000
August 1998MF Nolberto Solano Boca Juniors£2,500,000
November 1998FW Duncan Ferguson Everton£8,000,000
January 1999FW Louis Saha MetzLoan
January 1999DF Didier Domi PSG£4,000,000
March 1999MF Silvio Marić Croatia Zagreb£3,650,000
  • Total spending: £28.55m

Out

DatePos.NameFromFee
June 1998FW Jon Dahl Tomasson Feyenoord£2,500,000
June 1998DF Darren Peacock Blackburn Rovers£100,000
July 1998GK Shaka Hislop West Ham UnitedFree
July 1998GK Pavel Srníček Banik OstravaFree
  • Total spending: £2.6m

Players

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
17MF  SCOStephen Glass
18FW  FRALouis Saha
20FW  SCODuncan Ferguson
21DF  ENGCarl Serrant
24MF  PERNolberto Solano
25FW  SCOPaul Dalglish
27DF  BELPhilippe Albert
28DF  NIRAaron Hughes
29MF  SCOGarry Brady
33DF  ENGDavid Beharall
34DF  GRENikos Dabizas
36MF  ENGJamie McClen
38DF  ENGAndy Griffin
40FW  SWEAndreas Andersson

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
19DF  ENGSteve Watson (to Aston Villa)
MF  ISLBjarni Guðjónsson (released)
DF  FRADavid Terrier (to Nice)

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
32MF  GERRalf Keidel
35FW  ENGPaul Robinson
37DF  SCOSteven Caldwell
39GK  ENGPeter Keen

Trialists

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  Miguel Aguilar (on trial from San Pedro)

Statistics

Appearances, goals and cards

(Starts + substitute appearances)
No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeTotalDiscipline
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK Shay Given31060202041001
2DF Warren Barton18+6050100024+6050
3DF Stuart Pearce12000202016011
4MF David Batty6+200020109+2040
4DF Didier Domi14040000018010
5DF Alessandro Pistone2+100000002+1010
6DF Steve Howey14040000018010
7MF Rob Lee20+6030001024+6060
8FW Stéphane Guivarc'h2+210000002+2100
9FW Alan Shearer29+11465212139+12170
10MF John Barnes0+100000000+1000
10MF Silvio Marić9+101+20000010+3010
11MF Gary Speed34+34611+102043+4580
12MF Dietmar Hamann22+1471100030+1571
13GK Steve Harper7+101+1000008+2000
14MF Temuri Ketsbaia14+12563002022+12820
15MF Georgios Georgiadis7+300+2110008+5120
16DF Laurent Charvet30+1150102038+1130
17MF Stephen Glass18+432+20202024+6310
18MF Keith Gillespie5+20000+10005+3000
18FW Louis Saha5+611100006+6210
19DF Steve Watson700000108000
20FW Duncan Ferguson720+2000007+2200
21DF Carl Serrant3+100000003+1010
24MF Nolberto Solano24+4670101+1033+5630
25FW Paul Dalglish6+510021008+5220
27DF Philippe Albert3+3000000+103+4020
28DF Aaron Hughes12+201+10100014+3010
29MF Garry Brady3+602+1000005+7000
33DF David Beharall400000004000
34DF Nikos Dabizas25+5360202135+5482
36MF Jamie McClen100000001000
38DF Andy Griffin14030101019020
40FW Andreas Andersson10+4210001012+4200

Starting 11

Coaching staff

PositionStaff
Manager Ruud Gullit
Assistant manager Steve Clarke
Goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman
Reserve team coach Terry McDermott

Last updated: 3 May 2011
Source: [1]

Results

Pre-season

27 July 1998 Bohemian 1–1 Newcastle United Dublin
Swan 78' (pen.)Keidel 73'Stadium: Dalymount Park
Attendance: 5,000
1 August 1998 JD Sports Cup Newcastle United 0–0
(3–4 p)
Benfica Middlesbrough
Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 5,430
Penalties
Watson
Pearce
Ketsbaia



5 August 1998 Bray Wanderers 0–6 Newcastle United Bray
Shearer 11', 29', 41'
Dalglish 61', 88'
Hamann 81'
Stadium: Carlisle Grounds
Attendance: 5,700
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
11Tottenham Hotspur381114134750−347Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
12Sheffield Wednesday38137184142−146
13Newcastle United381113144854−646Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b]
14Everton381110174247−543
15Coventry City38119183951−1242
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:

Results by matchday

22 August 1998 2 Chelsea 1–1 Newcastle United London
Babayaro 23'Andersson 43'Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 34,795
Referee: Uriah Rennie
30 August 1998 3 Newcastle United 1–4 Liverpool Newcastle upon Tyne
Guivarc'h 28'Owen 17', 18', 32'
Berger 45'
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,740
Referee: Graham Barber
9 September 1998 4 Aston Villa 1–0 Newcastle United Birmingham
Hendrie 64' (pen.)Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 39,241
Referee: Graham Poll
12 September 1998 5 Newcastle United 4–0 Southampton Newcastle upon Tyne
Shearer 8', 37' (pen.)
Marshall 88' (o.g.)
Ketsbaia 90'
Dodd  38'Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,454
Referee: Mike Riley
19 September 1998 6 Coventry City 1–5 Newcastle United Coventry
Whelan 4'Dabizas 14'
Shearer 42', 90'
Speed 43'
Glass 58'
Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 22,656
Referee: R. Harris
4 October 1998 8 Arsenal 3–0 Newcastle United London
Bergkamp 21', 66' (pen.)
Anelka 29'
Dabizas  65'  Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,102
Referee: Mike Reed
24 October 1998 10 Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Newcastle United London
Iversen 39', 76'
Calderwood  86' 
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 36,047
Referee: Graham Barber
31 October 1998 11 Newcastle United 0–3 West Ham United Newcastle upon Tyne
Dabizas  48'Wright 56', 90'
Sinclair 76'
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,744
Referee: Graham Poll
8 November 1998 12 Manchester United 0–0 Newcastle United Manchester
Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 55,174
Referee: Steve Dunn
23 November 1998 14 Everton 1–0 Newcastle United Liverpool
Ball 18'Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 30,357
Referee: Neale Barry
28 November 1998 15 Newcastle United 3–1 Wimbledon Newcastle upon Tyne
Solano 37'
Ferguson 59', 90'
Gayle 33'Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,623
Referee: Uriah Rennie
12 December 1998 17 Blackburn Rovers 0–0 Newcastle United Blackburn
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 27,569
Referee: R. Harris
26 December 1998 19 Newcastle United 0–3 Leeds United Newcastle upon Tyne
Kewell 38'
Bowyer 62'
Hasselbaink 90'
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,783
Referee: G. Willard
28 December 1998 20 Liverpool 4–2 Newcastle United Liverpool
Owen 67', 80'
Riedle 71', 84'
Solano 29'
Hamann  30' 
Andersson 56'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,605
Referee: Stephen Lodge
9 January 1999 21 Newcastle United 0–1 Chelsea Newcastle upon Tyne
Petrescu 39'Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,711
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
17 January 1999 22 Charlton Athletic 2–2 Newcastle United London
Bright 64'
Pringle 90'
Ketsbaia 13'
Solano 55'
Dabizas  77' 
Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 20,043
Referee: Peter Jones
30 January 1999 23 Newcastle United 2–1 Aston Villa Newcastle upon Tyne
Shearer 4'
Ketsbaia 27'
Merson 61'Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,766
Referee: R. Harris
6 February 1999 24 Leeds United 0–1 Newcastle United Leeds
Solano 63'Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 40,202
Referee: Uriah Rennie
17 February 1999 25 Newcastle United 4–1 Coventry City Newcastle upon Tyne
Shearer 19', 75'
Speed 55'
Saha 58'
Whelan 18'Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,352
Referee: Steve Dunn
20 February 1999 26 Southampton 2–1 Newcastle United Southampton
Beattie 12'
Dodd 43' (pen.)
Hamann 86'Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 15,244
Referee: Graham Poll
28 February 1999 27 Newcastle United 1–1 Arsenal Newcastle upon Tyne
Hamann 77'Anelka 36'Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,708
Referee: Mike Reed
10 March 1999 28 Nottingham Forest 1–2 Newcastle United Nottingham
Freedman 12'
Louis-Jean  50' 
Shearer 45' (pen.)
Hamann 77'
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 22,852
Referee: Jeff Winter
20 March 1999 30 West Ham United 2–0 Newcastle United London
Di Canio 17'
Kitson 82'
Stadium: Upton Park
Attendance: 25,997
Referee: Paul Durkin
3 April 1999 31 Derby County 3–4 Newcastle United Derby
Burton 8'
Baiano 22' (pen.)
Wanchope 90'
Speed 11', 14'
Ketsbaia 39'
Solano 60'
Stadium: Pride Park
Attendance: 32,039
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
17 April 1999 33 Newcastle United 1–3 Everton Newcastle upon Tyne
15:00Shearer 82' (pen.)Campbell 1', 44'
Gemmill 88'
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,775
Referee: Graham Poll
24 April 1999 35 Wimbledon 1–1 Newcastle United London
Hartson 24'Shearer 18'Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 21,172
Referee: Peter Jones
1 May 1999 36 Newcastle United 1–1 Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne
Shearer 64' (pen.)Mustoe 60'Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,552
Referee: Mike Reed
2 January 1999 Round 3 Newcastle United 2–1 Crystal Palace Newcastle upon Tyne
15:00Given  14'
Speed 48'
Shearer 69'
(Report)Bradbury 18'Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,536
Referee: M. Reed

References