Graeme Souness has delivered a blunt assessment of his turbulent spell at Newcastle United, admitting the job effectively ended his time in management.
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The Liverpool legend has not taken charge of a club since being sacked by the Magpies in 2006.
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Souness arrived at St James’ Park in 2004 as the successor to Sir Bobby Robson, but his tenure quickly unravelled.
While he guided Newcastle to the FA Cup semi-finals and UEFA Cup quarter-finals, league form collapsed, with the club finishing 14th in his first season.
His biggest signing, Michael Owen, arrived in a record deal but injuries and poor results overshadowed the investment.
By February 2006, Newcastle sat 15th, prompting the club to dismiss Souness midway through the campaign.
‘Newcastle Just Finished Me’ – Souness Opens Up on Regret
Speaking to Blackburn Rovers’ official YouTube channel, Souness admitted he took the role without proper due diligence.
He said he underestimated the challenges and described Newcastle as a job he “just didn’t touch” in hindsight.
The 71-year-old highlighted the club’s decades-long struggle for trophies and said he never enjoyed his stint due to poor relationships with senior figures behind the scenes.
“Newcastle just finished me,” Souness confessed. “I didn’t want to be answerable to those kinds of people ever again.”
His time at the club also featured a public fallout with Craig Bellamy, who accused Souness of trying to turn fans against him after being played out of position.
Since departing Tyneside, Souness has remained in punditry and has never returned to management, reports Newcastle United.
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