- Kieran Trippier’s best moments ranked
- Newcastle hero is leaving St James’ Park
- Carabao Cup triumph cherished
Newcastle United today announced that Kieran Trippier will be leaving the club at the end of the season. The English right-back will depart when his contract expires in June.
A career in black and white that has spanned the majority of the period post-takeover, Trippier has etched himself into Geordie folklore for a multitude of reasons.
From goals to awards to showing his leadership qualities at every turn, Trippier will be sorely missed on Tyneside. To honour his integral contributions, ReadNewcastle takes a look at some of his best moments in a Newcastle shirt.
5. Trippier’s Man City Stunner
On August 21st, 2022, Newcastle faced Manchester City in a Premier League clash at St James’ Park. The Magpies were well aware of City’s threat, even in the early stages of the season, having been battered 4-0 and 5-0, respectively, in the previous campaign.
It was largely expected to be an uphill battle for the home side. But by half-time, Eddie Howe’s men found themselves 2-1 up courtesy of Miguel Almirón and Callum Wilson’s goals.
Then, about 10 minutes after half-time, Newcastle were awarded a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Trippier stepped up, with all the prowess of a serial set-piece taker coursing through his veins.
He whipped the ball over the jumping wall toward the top left corner, leaving Ederson scrambling. The ball nestled into the top corner.
Newcastle would go on to throw away the 3-1 lead they had built, with the game ending 3-3. But the moment was still one of pure class by Trippier.
4. Vital Villa Free-kick
At the height of Newcastle’s 2022 relegation battle, February saw a crucial game against Aston Villa come to the fore.
Having won two games on the bounce ahead of the fixture, it marked an opportunity to go four points clear of the drop zone, which is, incidentally, exactly what happened.
In the 35th minute, as will become a staple of this list, Trippier stood over a set piece. He fired a vicious free kick toward the Villa goal.
It did, granted, take a deflection; however, it was nestling into the bottom corner regardless. The game ultimately finished 1-0, with Trippier winning the game for the Magpies.
It wasn’t his only free-kick goal in that time period, either. He would score another vital set piece against Everton at St James’ Park, too. This one with no defection but just as much venom behind it as Trippier once again put his stamp on Newcastle’s relegation battle.
Perhaps not the greatest of goals in terms of aesthetics, but a mightily important one in Newcastle’s bid for survival.
3. Player of the Season
The 2022/23 campaign was undoubtedly Trippier’s most influential season in black and white, so it feels unjust not to include it as a whole here. The Newcastle skipper was imperious from fullback, with his experience galvanising the whole team in an excellent season.
Eddie Howe’s men qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, finishing a monumental fourth place in the Premier League.
Trippier was subsequently named Newcastle’s player of the season; his appearances were recognised nationwide as well. The former England international took his place in the PFA Premier League team of the year, further showing just how good he was across the campaign.
2. ‘Trippier with drift’
The words ‘Trippier with drift’ may appear innocuous in isolation. But speak them to any self-respecting Newcastle fan, and emotions of a memorable day will be evoked.
By now, you will realise this list has largely encompassed Trippier’s quality from dead-ball situations, and that is no different with this moment.
As the clock struck 45′ in the fateful Carabao Cup final, which we will address more later, Newcastle won a corner in a packed Wembley.
Trippier trotted over to take it in ordinary fashion, but nobody could be prepared for the sheer delirium that would result from his delivery.
He swung the ball in, or ‘drifted’ it, as per the magical commentary of Peter Drury. Local boy Dan Burn advanced, powering a header past a stranded Kelleher to send the Geordie faithful wild.
A goal largely remembered for Dan Burn’s heroics for his boyhood club. But one that wouldn’t have been possible without the delicious delivery of Newcastle’s veteran fullback.
1. Carabao Cup win
Following on from the previous, how could we mention Kieran Trippier without acknowledging the history-making achievement he helped deliver with his brilliance?
As the first-ever signing under Saudi ownership, Trippier was tasked with using his experience to guide the club back to the promised land of winning trophies and competing with the best.
The Carabao Cup victory last year marked him reaching the summit of that mountain. Giving Newcastle fans a moment they had been waiting 70 years for in the process.
Even in jubilation, he showed just how important his character has been to the squad too. During the trophy lift, he called over club captain Jamaal Lascelles, who had been with the club since the Ashley era but missed most of the season through injury.
Trippier asked Lascelles to lift the trophy with him and Bruno Guimaraes, emphasising his exceptional leadership qualities in the process.
Trippier will always be remembered as a consummate professional, a pioneering figure in the club’s upward trajectory, and one of the key figures who brought glory back to St James’ Park.
