Newcastle Transfers: 10 More French Players Who Played For The Toon

6. Olivier Bernard

Show Racism The Red CardBorn: October 14th, 1979 in Paris Signed By: Sir Bobby Robson in 2000 and Glenn Roeder in 2006, both on a free transfer. Signed From: Lyon (2000) and free transfer (2006; released by Glasgow Rangers). Left Newcastle: 2005 and 2007, both on a free transfer League Appearances: 102 League Goals: 6 A rare case of a player joining Newcastle United on two separate occasions, Olivier Bernard held down a regular first team role in Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle United side, spending five years with the club and making over 100 appearances. Signed on a free transfer from French giants Lyon, Bernard joined Newcastle during a month of strong transfer activity, acquired alongside Lomana Lua-Lua and Clarence Acuna as part of Sir Bobby Robson's rebuilding of the squad after the disastrous reigns of Kenny Dalglish and Ruud Gullit. Although he joined during a defensive crisis, the 21-year-old Bernard was loaned out to Darlington in 2001. Upon his return, he established a fruitful left flank partnership with Laurent Robert, and became a core competent of the side that finished third, fourth and fifth during Sir Bobby's tenure. Although never a star player, Bernard was a solid performer within a strong Newcastle team, before the departure of Robson in August 2004 led to change under new manager Graeme Souness. Bernard left the club a few months later to join Premier League strugglers Southampton. However, Bernard's Newcastle United days were not over just yet, and after a short and uneventful stint at Glasgow Rangers he returned on a free transfer in 2006. Injuries had took their toll on Olivier, though, and despite some appearances on the substitutes bench - including for a game against Palermo best remembered for being Tim Krul's debut - he never played for the senior side again. Bernard is best remembered, though, for an incident with his left-sided partner Robert, in which the ball was hit at him full force, causing him to slowly and comically fall to the ground. Bernard wasn't seriously hurt in the incident, and if you'd like to see it again... http://youtu.be/LltnTI7MzIM Would he make the cut today? The Olivier Bernard of the Sir Bobby Robson days would make a solid member of the first team squad, and could possibly displace Davide Santon in the team.
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Dave Hedley is a writer, journalist and broadcaster based in Newcastle. A keen follower of both music and sport, and a keen follower of Newcastle United, he writes for WhatCulture! on football and other sports.