Patrick Kluivert enjoyed a hugely-successful six-season spell at Barcelona between 1998 and 2004, scoring 90 goals in 182 appearances and forming a ruthless partnership with Rivaldo. He finished as the Catalan club's top goalscorer in 1999-2000, and won La Liga the season prior. In 2004, after receiving an overwhelming reaction from Newcastle fans during a pre-season friendly against Barca, Kluivert opted to join the Magpies, but his time in the north east was very forgettable. Despite forming what looked on paper at least to be a fearsome partnership with Alan Shearer, the Dutchman could not prevent his new club from slumping into a bottom half finish in his debut season, and he lasted just 12 months until his contract on Tyneside was mutually terminated. As well as only managing six goals in his 25 Premier League appearances at Newcastle, Kluivert's time in England was further tempered by claims of racial abuse, with the striker claiming he was barraged by 'monkey chants' from supporters in a recent interview.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
