Chelsea’s ties to the Blues’ next opponent, Newcastle

Chelsea connects is back from its own international break as focus turns to this weekend’s opponent, Newcastle United, and the ties the clubs have.

As the old nursery rhyme goes, ‘one for sorrow, two for joy,’ referring to the number of magpies that equate to good or bad luck. For Chelsea, the Blues’ last visit to St. James Park was certainly one of sorrow, conceding in the 90′ to an Isaac Hayden header having dominated with 70 percent of the possession.

Newcastle United will be hoping for more joy as the Magpies attempt to win consecutively against the Blues for the first time since they did the double in 2013. Frank Lampard was still a player, Alan Pardew was still in management and Newcastle fans still hated Mike Ashley. All three have contributed to the rich rivalry between Chelsea and Newcastle, as we embark on this week’s connects profile.

Prior to that victory in January, the Magpies’ last win against the visitors was on the final day of 2017/18. The Blues, reigning Champions, traveled up north knowing nothing other than three points would be enough to sneak into the top four. As it unfolded, Newcastle ended up with the three points and three goals as Antonio Conte cursed his side for not securing Champions League football. In the opposing dugout, Rafa Benitez was celebrating his first-ever Premier League scalp over one of his former employers—more on that later.

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Up to that point, it had been five undefeated for the Blues against United, including a 5-1 humbling in 2016 that saw Bertrand Traore write his own piece of history as he became Burkina Faso’s first and only goalscorer in the English top-flight.

Newcastle did own the upper hand for a year between 2012 and 2013, winning three of the four matches contested, most memorably the night Papiss Cisse sent shivers down the spine of the Stamford Bridge faithful. 2nd May will only be remembered for his gravity-defying, jaw-dropping outside of the boot strike that sailed over Petr Cech’s head and into the back of the net, leaving a stunned silence around the Blues’ stadium. What many will unfortunately forget was Cisse’s other world class goal he dispatched in the first half, a volley off his left-foot that would’ve trumped many goals of the season lists if not for his unbelievable moment later down the line.

Not to preen the Magpies too much, one of Chelsea’s own cult heroes can thank this fixture for his arrival to the footballing community. Eden Hazard bagged his maiden goal for the Blues, three games after signing from Lille for £32 million.

Talking of goalscoring starts, Alan Shearer aimed to get his managerial mojo off to a flyer in 2009 at home to Chelsea, the league’s record marksmen appointed as United’s boss in the hope he could steer his boyhood club away from relegation. The Blues must’ve missed the fairytale memo as they ran away 2-0 victors. On the day, Lampard landed his name on the scoresheet, adding to the eight he’d notch up against Newcastle during his illustrious career.

Lampard had featured again 12 months prior in a tie of far greater importance for the Blues than ruining Shearer’s royal reunion. Back on Tyneside, Avram Grant’s men needed a successful return to London to ensure the title swing would go down to the wire. Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda made certain that Chelsea was level on points with Manchester United going into the season’s finale, albeit on inferior goal difference. United beat Wigan whilst the Blues drew to Bolton Wanderers, the Reds ruling once more as the pair met in the Champion League final that same term.

Enough of the heartbreak, let’s move onto players and coaches who have crossed the north/south divide. Benitez already has a mention, leading Chelsea to Europa League glory in 2013 and guiding Newcastle through demotion, promotion and two mid-table finishes before his exit last year.

Ruud Gullit—a European icon of the 80s and 90s—had far less heralded fortunes in Great Britain, where he took charge of Chelsea and Newcastle. He did begin impressively in the capital, deploying his Dutch approach as player-manager, shepherding the Blues to Wembley as they won the 1997 FA Cup. He became the first ex-pat to win a major trophy in England. His love for the cup continued with Newcastle, defeated finalists on this occasion in ’99. Despite his achievements, he was sacked and then resigned from both his respective appointments. Steve Clarke conducted proceedings with United after Gullit’s departure, but was swiftly swept away by Chelsea to oversee the youth set up. Jose Mourinho promptly promoted him to assistant of the seniors in 2004, the Scotsman and a Special One conquerors of the land for half a decade.

We have our director and his backroom staff, now we need his foot soldiers. It is possible to form an XI—an unbalanced and pretty mediocre one—of those to have donned the Blue, as well as the Black and White, stripes.

GK: Dave Beasant (Newcastle ’88-89, Chelsea ’89-93) Defense: Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea ’97-05, Newcastle ’05-08); Dave Mitchel (Chelsea ’88-90, Newcastle ’90-91); Kenedy (Chelsea ’15, Newcastle 18-19 on loan). Midfield: Geremi (Chelsea ’03-07, Newcastle ’07-09); Scott Parker (Chelsea ’04-05, Newcastle 05-07); Damien Duff (Chelsea ’03-06, Newcastle ’06-09); Gavin Peacock (Newcastle ’90-93, Chelsea ’93-96). Attack: Demba Ba (Newcastle ’11-13, Chelsea ’13-14); Loic Remy (Newcastle ’13-14 on loan, Chelsea ’14-17); Byran ‘Pop’ Robson (Newcastle ’62-71, Chelsea ’82-83).

What is your favorite Chelsea connection with Newcastle? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!