Seldom can one game be enough anyone to become a footballing icon, but it could be argued that it took just 90 minutes for Tino Asprilla to earn his legendary status at Newcastle United. The Colombian scored a hat-trick in the 3-2 Champions League win against Barcelona exactly 20 years ago today, on September 17th 1997.
Months earlier, in the previous February, Kevin Keegan shocked the footballing world by resigning as Newcastle manager. After leading the club to the brink of the Premier League title having built the fabled ‘Entertainers’ side, he walked away from St James’ Park after five years in charge. Kenny Dalglish would set about dismantling that team piece by piece; although Alan Shearer was injured for the clash with the Blaugrana, while Les Ferdinand and David Ginola had both been sold to Tottenham Hotspur, English football’s second favourite football team had one more night of magic left in them, courtesy of one of their most controversial figures.
It would be unfair to say Asprilla is remembered solely for this performance because there was something of a cult hero about him already. His love of the Tyneside nightlife was well documented, and that, coupled with his natural ability, made him very popular with the Newcastle fans. Arriving from Parma in February 1996, donning his now famous fur coat and stood knee deep in snow, he became an instant favourite thanks in no small part to his debut, against Middlesbrough, when he came on as a substitute and sent Steve Vickers for a hotdog with a spectacular Cruyff turn before setting up an equalising goal.
But his status would go through the roof on what was, looking back now, his last great contribution on Tyneside before being sold back to Parma the following January. In a way it was fitting that the last hurrah of the Keegan way came at the hands of his most exuberant performer.
Barcelona travelled to St James’ Park in something of a transitional phase. Louis van Gaal replaced a certain Bobby Robson, who moved into a director’s role, as coach. Ronaldo, the Brazilian superstar voted the world’s best player the previous winter ahead of Shearer, broke the world transfer record paid by the Magpies for the Englishman when he joined Inter in the summer. Yet, with Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Luis Enrique and Sonny Anderson at his disposal, van Gaal had a rather formidable side.
Asprilla never really saw eye to eye with Dalglish, in fact not many of Keegan’s more devoted disciples did. But the Scot could only watch and admire with a smile as broad as the River Tyne as he witnessed the show that night. For years, Newcastle had gone into every game with no fear; no regard for what might go wrong. Of course, it didn’t always work, but when it did, history was made. It was a sort of tribute to what had ended that night, but what a way for Asprilla and the Entertainers to bow out.
The home side’s ferocity was too much for the Catalans from the off. Everything started on 22 minutes when, as quick as a flash, Asprilla sprung on Barça’s goalkeeper, Ruud Hesp. The Colombian knew the foul was coming once he entered the box. Knocking the ball past Hesp, he collapsed in a heap and Pierluigi Collina, the referee on the night, pointed to the spot.
Twenty years on, there is no doubting who the night belonged to, but one other’s contribution to the result is particularly special and should not be forgotten. Keith Gillespie’s two crosses, either side of half time, allowed Asprilla to give Newcastle an unassailable lead. Luis Enrique and Figo made sure it was a nervy end to the game for the home fans, but they couldn’t spoil a party, which has been restarted all these years later.
What Newcastle had back then, they may have lost now. Trophy wise, they are still as unsuccessful as ever, but under owner Mike Ashley, caution has never been thrown out of the window; pure ambition has never taken hold. A desire to work hard and become legends drove the players at that time, and on no better occasion did they show it.
That European journey was ended at the group stage by eventual qualifiers Dynamo Kiev and PSV Eindhoven. Barça would get their revenge five years later, winning both home and away against their former coach Robson, but they ended the 1997/98 campaign bottom of that particular pile.
Asprilla departed four months later with a rather modest record of 12 goals in 54 games, but his legendary status is set in stone. The trademark cartwheel celebration, his intoxicating love for parties and obsession with pleasing a crowd all helped negate the statistics, but it was his performance against Barcelona which rubberstamped his reputation.
Looking at it now, it almost doesn’t feel real, given the contrasting fortunes of both clubs since. But Newcastle United once took on the mighty Barcelona and won, and they did it in the style that, even today, exactly 20 years on, still identifies them.
