Eddie Howe has told Sports Mole that some of his "iconic" Newcastle United players will go on to establish themselves as club "legends" after steering the Magpies to EFL Cup glory in Sunday's final against Liverpool.
After seven painful decades without lifting silverware, Newcastle deservedly beat Premier League champions-elect Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley Stadium to win their first-ever EFL Cup and their first major domestic trophy since the 1955 FA Cup.
Local lad and Man of the Match Dan Burn - fresh from earning his first England call-up - opened the scoring for the Magpies on the stroke of half time with a thumping header, before top scorer Alexander Isak doubled their advantage by firing home his 23rd goal of the season in all competitions seven minutes after the break.
To the surprise of many, Liverpool were a shadow of the team that has been so impressive under Arne Slot this season, and although substitute Federico Chiesa pulled one back for the Reds in stoppage time, the damage had already been done.
Indeed, Wembley was painted black and white at full time by the Toon Army, who will celebrate long into the night after watching Howe's heroes march into Geordie history, ending a nine-game losing streak at Wembley and a run of five successive defeats in cup finals.
When Howe arrived at Newcastle in 2021, not only was he tasked with bringing the best out of his players on the pitch, but also galvanising a fanbase that had endured years of discontent at the bottom end of the Premier League and briefly spells in the Championship under former owner Mike Ashley.
Thanks to both Howe and the Saudi-backed takeover, which removed the reviled Ashley from his position, the Toon Army have seen their club transformed into one of the best teams in England, one that has competed in the Champions League and has now finally lifted silverware.
© Imago
Howe heaps praise on "iconic" Newcastle players after EFL Cup triumph
Including captain Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Isak and Burn to name just a few, a whole host of Newcastle players have become fan favourites under Howe, who believes that it is of the utmost importance for the club to have such a strong bond between the players and supporters, which has not always been the case.
Speaking to Sports Mole after the match, Howe said: "I think it's huge. I think the supporters have to come and really enjoy watching that team play, and they've got their heroes in the team, and I encourage that.
"And I do think we've got some iconic players who will go down as legends of the football club in the future, but they've still got to sort of cement that legacy.
"We've got a really talented group of players, but we've also got some really great stories in there too, players that have fought against the odds to end up in this position and continue to excel and do well."
Howe is celebrating winning his first major piece of silverware in his managerial career, while the ex-Bournemouth boss has become the first English manager to win a trophy in England since Harry Redknapp won the 2008 FA Cup with Portsmouth. Coincidently, Redknapp's first signing as Portsmouth boss back in 2002 was none other than Howe himself!
Newcastle's EFL Cup triumph means they have secured a Conference League qualification spot for next season, but they will endeavour to finish the current campaign on a high by claiming a top-four, or top-five, spot in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League.
The Magpies currently sit sixth in the top-flight table, only two points behind Chelsea in fourth with a game in hand, and they will return to St James' Park for the first time since their Wembley victory when they take on Brentford after the international break on April 2.
Oliver Thomas
