Newcastle United's triumph at Wembley: Alan Shearer shares the euphoria of long-awaited success
"I don't even know what time I left Wembley after Sunday's Carabao Cup final, it was that kind of night," recalls Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, still buzzing from his beloved club's historic victory over Liverpool.
The celebration that followed Newcastle's triumph was nothing short of epic. Shearer, along with his son Will and daughter Chloe, headed straight from the stadium to Boxpark on Wembley Way to join hundreds of jubilant fans and the victorious Newcastle players. The champagne and beer flowed freely in what became an unforgettable evening of pure joy.
"Everyone was on such a high, and I am still buzzing now from the sheer emotion of seeing Newcastle finally win a major trophy and the reaction that followed," Shearer explains. At 54, the former striker represents a generation of Newcastle supporters who had never witnessed their club lift a major trophy, with the team's last significant silverware being the 1969 Fairs Cup.
The party shows no signs of stopping soon. "I am going to be on a high for a few more days because I have not finished celebrating," says Shearer, taking advantage of the international break. "The party is going to continue for me - the same as it will back in Newcastle too."
In a city where football dictates the mood of the entire population week by week, this victory ensures "everyone is going to have a right good few weeks." With Newcastle not playing again until April 2, fans can extend their celebrations, a deserved release after decades of waiting.
The contrast with Newcastle's defeat in the 2023 Carabao Cup final against Manchester United couldn't be starker. "I much prefer having people texting me to say 'congratulations' rather than everyone saying 'unlucky,'" Shearer admits. The moment of victory left him "lost in the moment," a feeling of pure elation that he struggled to process even as it happened.
For Shearer, who experienced Wembley heartbreak as both a fan and a player in the 1998 and 1999 FA Cup finals, this victory was particularly sweet. "Wembley is only a place for winners - it's not a nice place when you lose," he reflects. "We have sampled that and it made Sunday's victory even sweeter."
Despite a nerve-wracking final four minutes of stoppage time, Newcastle managed the game with impressive composure, protecting their lead with cool professionalism that contrasted sharply with the anxiety in the stands. "Let's face it, Newcastle were due a Wembley win and, finally, this was our turn," Shearer declares triumphantly, adding with a smile, "Liverpool are going to win the Premier League, so they can have that, but this cup is ours!"
Manager Eddie Howe receives particular praise from Shearer, who sent him a congratulatory text message after the game. "Eddie deserves all the plaudits he is getting, because he has been unbelievable for Newcastle," says Shearer, highlighting the remarkable transformation from the team's precarious position when Howe took over in November 2021 - 19th in the Premier League and five points from safety.
"He is in Newcastle folklore now, and he will always be a legend in the eyes of the Geordie public, and rightly so," Shearer affirms. The achievement is all the more impressive given the financial constraints Newcastle have operated under, with spending restricted for the past three transfer windows while still complying with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules.
Shearer even suggests that Howe "is the greatest English manager of the past 30 years," placing him above celebrated Newcastle managers Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson in terms of achievements at St. James' Park. "Kevin and Sir Bobby were both fantastic for the club and both brought different things, but they didn't bring a trophy. That's what Newcastle fans have yearned for and now Eddie has done it."
Looking to the future, Shearer draws parallels with Chelsea after their first trophy under Jose Mourinho (the 2005 League Cup) and Manchester City following their 2011 FA Cup win, both of which preceded eras of sustained success. While acknowledging there are "no guarantees," Shearer is hopeful: "I am really hoping this is just the start of something very special in the years ahead for Newcastle, and that this trophy is the first of many."
For a club and a city where football is life itself, this long-awaited moment of glory has sparked celebrations that will continue for weeks to come. After 54 years of waiting, the party in Newcastle is just getting started.
