It felt like a Hollywood introduction for the latest marquee addition to Kevin Keegan’s merry band of Entertainers.
In front of a picturesque backdrop provided by heavy snowfall and amid the flashing lights of photographers’ cameras, Colombian superstar Faustino Asprilla, bedecked in a long fur coat to defend against the elements, had arrived on Tyneside to formally complete a protracted club record deal to join Newcastle from Parma.
At a time when Serie A was viewed as arguably the best league in world football, plucking one of its most extravagant stars felt like something of a coup for a club that has only narrowly avoided relegation into the third tier of English football just four years earlier.
Yet this was the time when Keegan famously declared he was ‘riding the black and white tiger’ as his second tier strugglers were transformed into title challengers in a period where the on-field transformation was matched around a city set alight by the upturn in fortunes of their beloved club.
After years of watching Asprilla dance and dazzle on Channel Four’s coverage of Serie A, Magpies supporters knew exactly what they were getting from their latest superstar signing.
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The same could not be said of Asprilla himself, who admitted he knew little of his new surroundings in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Live as he reflected on his arrival 30 years ago.
The Colombian said of his arrival: “I didn’t really know anything about the city and I only really knew London in England and then with football I knew the bigger clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
“When I arrived in Newcastle I quickly realised these are hardworking, passionate working class people and there were a lot of different cultures within the city but they all shared one common passion and that was football and the game.”
Despite the presence of the likes of David Ginola, Philippe Albert and Peter Beardsley in the Magpies squad, it could be argued Asprilla was the first world renowned star Newcastle had signed since his manager rounded off his playing career by agreeing to move to St James Park some 14 years earlier.
Much like the supporters that would take Asprilla to their hearts, the Colombian international’s new team-mates were regular viewers of his talents as they were broadcast on terrestrial television.
For Geordie midfielder Lee Clark, there were high expectations of the man who replaced Les Ferdinand as his beloved club’s record signing – and those expectations were quickly surpassed as he got train and play alongside a player he described as ‘on a different level’.
He said: “We’d had Ginola and Albert come in and they were superstars so we were starting to get a bit of continental flair into the group – but Tino took it to a new level.
“Serie A was right up there with the Premier League in terms of being the best league in the world and we had seen a lot of him because the games were televised on Channel Four at the time. We knew what we were getting – but we didn’t realise just how good he would be until we experienced it on a regular basis in training and on matchday.
“We also didn’t realise the character he would end up being – but he was a brilliant guy. He embraced the club, he bought into what we were about as Geordies and he embraced the city as a whole.
“He was probably better than what we had seen and that started from day one on his debut because he was on a different level and his type of signing took the club forward in many different ways.”
Tino Asprilla – with manager with Kevin Keegan – making his debut for Newcastle United at Middlesbrough’s Riverside, February 10, 1996
Asprilla did not wait long to show why he was on a different level as he was surprisingly named as a substitute for a Tees-Tyne derby with Middlesbrough just 24 hours after officially completing his move to Newcastle. Trailing to an unfortunate own goal from John Beresford, Keegan’s side needed some inspiration and the Magpies boss looked to his latest addition to coax an improvement out of his flagging players.
What followed has gone down in Tyneside folklore as Asprillia twisted and turned on left-hand side of the Boro area, leaving home defenders Steve Vickers and Neil Cox chasing shadows. His movement created enough space for a pinpoint cross into the Boro area that was met by the head of right-back Steve Watson and he made no mistake with a header from close range.
Les Ferdinand grabbed a somewhat fortuitous winner just four minutes later but there was still more than enough time for Asprilla to showcase his dazzling talents to roars of appreciation from the travelling support inside the Riverside Stadium.
If the Magpies fans had already fallen in love with the latest addition to Keegan’s squad, the same could be said of his new team-mates.
Goalscorer Watson explained: “You’d watch Serie A on Channel Four but we didn’t really know what he was like. You knew his name but we didn’t know loads about him other than that he was a real marquee signing for the club at the time.
“His character showed itself immediately and you could tell he had something completely different from the minute he came on the pitch at the Riverside. It was about harnessing that and putting it into a performance and that was the key and the challenge.
“It’s wound me up asking why a right-back was getting on the end of his cross but I guess that was how Kevin worked with the side.”
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Asprilla and his new manager and there were ups and downs throughout his first 12 months on Tyneside – but the former Parma star admitted he ‘loved’ forming just one part of Keegan’s attack-minded side.
He said: “The relationship with Kevin Keegan was excellent, we had a very good relationship. The only thing we ever had was just before Keegan left, I got dropped for a few games because he wasn’t too happy with the way I was playing. But we had a very strong attacking side and I loved being part of that.”
After his spectacular introduction to the Premier League, Asprilla quickly adapted to life on and off the pitch at St James Park and embraced the unbreakable team spirit Keegan had fostered within his squad.
There were accusations his signing had disrupted Newcastle’s bid for a first top flight title since 1927 and allowed Sir Alex Ferguson’s relentless Manchester United side to overhaul the Magpies to become champions with a final day win at Middlesbrough. However, that ignores the fact Asprilla provided a number of high class moments throughout the final months of the season with a fine performance in a 3-0 home win against West Ham United and a dazzling display in a 3-3 draw at Manchester City.
A coming together with City defender Keith Curle may well have dampened his impact in the latter – but there was no doubt the Colombian had integrated himself into the United squad.
“He had a language barrier but with the help of an interpreter he bought into everything really quickly,” explained Clark. “He loved the camaraderie at the club and in the dressing room. He tried to be part of it but there were some barriers with the language – although we joked he used it to his benefit and knew more English than he let on.
“He was a very popular person in the dressing room and we all loved him.”
The title dreams died on the final day of a long and draining run-in and despite the addition of world record signing Alan Shearer, Newcastle ended the following campaign trailing in the Red Devils wake once again. However, a second placed finish under Keegan’s successor Kenny Dalglish did secure a spot in the Champions League for the first time in the Magpies history.
The unexpected sale of Les Ferdinand to Tottenham Hotspur and the cruel timing of a serious ankle injury suffered by Shearer thrust Asprilla into the main attacking role within Dalglish’s squad – and although results were mixed, there was one performance that stands out on a night for the ages at St James Park.
After negotiating a tricky qualifying round tie with a Croatia Zagreb side containing future Magpies Silvio Maric and Mark Viduka, the Magpies geared up for a memorable first ever group stage game at St James Park. Barcelona were the visitors and with the help of a memorable performance from winger Keith Gillespie, Asprilla plundered his way to a hat-trick with a penalty followed by two picturesque headers.
Nerves were set on edge as Luis Enrique and Luis Figo got the Catalan giants back into the game during the final 20 minutes – but Dalglish’s men held on to claim a famous victory on a night that will be spoken of for generations to come.
The Magpies manager praised the striker for providing ‘tremendous threat up front’ as he spoke to the media in the aftermath of the win – but team-mate Watson, who was a solid presence in defence that night, went one step further with his own assessment.
“It’s the Barcelona game, that was one of the most complete centre forward performances I’d seen and have seen,” explained the former Magpies stalwart. “Not just seen, but actually seeing it playing behind him was incredible. He was a really special talent and he showed it that night.”
Newcastle United legend Tino Asprilla at St James’ Park(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
Asprilla was back on Tyneside earlier this season when Eddie Howe’s current crop of Magpies stars faced Barcelona in their first game in the new look Champions League format. After taking part in several talk-ins across the North East, including at Blyth Town where Chronicle Live caught up with him, Asprilla was on hand to witness a brave United performance fall narrowly short of providing a positive result as two Marcus Rashford goals helped Barca to a 2-1 win at St James Park.
The love Asprilla felt throughout his return to the region was reciprocated by a man who is the epitome of a cult hero for the fans that still hold him close to their heart.
Reflecting on his return, Asprilla said: “I have gratitude to the club and the supporters and it is amazing to be loved by them after all this time. I still love them too and they are special to me. I will always try and come back as much as I can.”