Newcastle United will return to the Champions League after an absence of over three decades when they make the trip to AC Milan later this month.
Eddie Howe’s side will become the first United side to feature in European football’s elite club competition since a difficult night at St James Park in March 2003 when the likes of Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert were unable to prevent Barcelona from claiming a 2-0 win on Tyneside.
That defeat brought down the curtain on the memorable run in the competition as Sir Bobby Robson’s Magpies became the first side to recover from three group stage defeats to progress into the second round of the competition. Some lifelong memories were created, with nights in the San Siro, Camp Nou and Feyenoord’s De Kuip Stadium going down in Tyneside folklore.
But where are the players that represented United in their last Champions League group stage fixture now?
1. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The side that represented Newcastle United in their last Champions League group stage fixture against Barcelona in March 2003.
Who did Sir Bobby Robson select when St James Park hosted its last Champions League group stage fixture? Photo: Getty Images
2. Shay Given
Given left St James Park in January 2009 after a decade on Tyneside and went on to feature for Manchester City, Aston Villa, Stoke City and Middlesbrough. The Republic of Ireland international had coaching roles with Villa and Derby County as now works in the media as a pundit. Photo: Getty Images
3. Andy Griffin
Griffin played for the likes of Portsmouth, Stoke City and Doncaster Rovers after leaving Newcastle in 2004. He became a coach at Newcastle-Under-Lyme College in 2014 and has done some media interviews about his playing career. Photo: Getty Images
4. Olivier Bernard
Bernard returned to Newcastle in 2006 after spells at Rangers and Southampton - but failed to make an appearance as injuries forced him into early retirement. Working heavily with anti-racism charity Show Racism The Red Card, Bernard has also worked in the media and co-owns the Masons Arms pub in Blyth. Photo: Getty Images