10 Newcastle Heroes Whose Careers Nosedived Since Leaving
4. Faustino Asprilla
The 90s answer to Mario Balotelli, aside from the playful antics, Tino Asprilla will forever be remembered on Tyneside for his match-winning hat-trick against European giants Barcelona during the autumn of 1997. While it has been levelled at the Columbian that his impact at St. James Park has been overstated somewhat considering he never bagged more than four league goals in either of his three seasons, the playful hit-man will always be remembered fondly on Tyneside. If some thought the Columbian was inconsistent at Newcastle, his post-St. James Park was on an entirely different level, as he amassed eight clubs over the next six years. Following a return to Italian side Parma in 1998, where he scored just once, he relocated to South America and struggled to find the back of the net for the likes of Palmeiras, Fluminense, Atlante, Atletico Nacional, Univesidad de Chile and Estudiantes de La Plata. There was a brief moment where Asprilla came to the fore in the eye of the English media once more, with the Columbian paraded in front of the Division Three side Darlingtons supporters in 2002. However, much to the clubs annoyance, Asprilla backed out of the deal at the last minute, leaving chairman George Reynolds absolutely gutted. He retired as a washed-up 35 year old in 2004, having never played a game for his new team, Columbian side Cortulua.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
