5 Awesome Newcastle United Captains (And 5 That Sucked)

And 5 That Sucked...

5. Jermaine Jenas

After an impressive beginning to his Newcastle career, that included winning the 2003 PFA Young Player of the Year award, Jenas' later years at St James' Park were marred by inconsistency and a series of inexplicably lacklustre performances.

Jenas temporarily regained his form under the management of Graeme Souness and was handed the responsibilities of vice-captain, deputising for Alan Shearer during his frequent injury lay-offs during the 2004/05 season. But, as it turned out, he was unable to shoulder the burden of leading the Magpies and eventually buckled under the pressure despite Souness sensationally remarking that he would have preferred Jenas to have worn the armband instead of Shearer during his reign. That would have been a categorical disaster given Jenas, 21 at the time, didn't possess a leadership bone in his body. 'I may be biased, but I think a captain should be in the centre of midfield," he acknowledged to Sky Sports in November 2004. "But I don't think that will be taken off Alan Shearer at this time - I'm not that brave." Another dramatic dip in form led Jenas to admit that he was struggling to cope with like in the Newcastle "fishbowl" and craved a move to London. That wish was granted on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2005 when he joined Tottenham for an initial £7 million where he once again failed to cope with the demands of being a vice-captain.