In a pre-iPhone-dominated world, Tyneside thought they had heard the daftest April Fool's joke in history; Alan Shearer is Newcastle United's new manager.
Mike Ashley, with one last roll of the dice, appointed the Toon icon hoping to save the Magpies' season. An eight-game spell ended in disaster, with just one win against Middlesbrough.
A gut-wrenching relegation stripped Newcastle of their Premier League status for the first time in 16 years. Chris Hughton rallied the troops the following year to secure an automatic return but many backed the Magpies to "do a Leeds" and tumble through the divisions.
Exactly 15 years ago today, Newcastle were staring into the abyss when they gave Shearer - a managerial novice - the gig at St James' Park. His first game was a 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea on April 4, 2009 - almost three years on from his final match as a player.
From the popular to the disliked and everyone in between, here is what the starting line-up from that day are up to now.
1. Steve Harper
Harper remains at Newcastle as the club's academy manager - a position he has held since 2021.
2. Habib Beye
Beye is currently manager of Red Star in the third tier of French football.
3. Fabricio Coloccini
The flair-filled defender remains in the game and is the assistant manager of Mexican outfit Guadalajara.
4. Jose Enrique
The Spaniard works as a pundit, primarily for Grosvenor Sport. He also supports Liverpool, an allegiance that often winds up Newcastle fans.