Forgotten Newcastle star Steven Taylor named coach of new UAE team in bizarre announcement video
Newcastle cult hero Steven Taylor has landed the managerial job at new UAE team Al Qabila – and fans loved his dramatic announcement.
He 38 years He has impressed in the Middle East, where he guided Gulf United to consecutive promotions to the second tier in the UAE pyramid.
This has led him to be recruited by Al Qabila, a team created as a project that will be built from scratch in 365 days and that will play in the top flight next season.
The club has been set up by Soheil Varahram, who played under Taylor at Gulf United, and will be a member of his team's playing squad.
In announcing Taylor's appointment, Varahram took social media where he began taunting fans before the former Magpies defender's arrival.
Sitting inside a blacked-out Mercedes SUV, the 25-year-old was discussing Taylor with the club's creative director, Daniyal Sheikh.
Praising the 2010 Championship winner, the pair describe him as “at the highest level of football”, with his “mentality on a different level”.
Then, another Mercedes pulls up in the desert, with a montage of Taylor's celebrations during her time in St. James Park.
Wearing an all-black outfit, Taylor exits the vehicle before shaking hands with Varahram, who tells her about his impressive resume that includes more than a decade playing with the Toon.
A proud Taylor then tells the club's new fans: “Guys, I'm excited to be part of the tribe, let's take control.”
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Fans loved the dramatic nature of the announcement video, as one user messaged: “If other trainers aren't announced like this now, I have no interest.”
Another commented: “Steven Taylor with the most hyped head coach announcement video of all time.”
This fan joked: “I thought it was going to be Pep.”
Another simply stated: “I thought it was Zidane.”
Taylor spent most of his 18-year professional playing career with Newcastle UnitedEdithaving joined the club as a youngster after his family returned to Tyneside following his birth in London.
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He made over 250 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions, playing 12 seasons in the Premier League, before leaving his boyhood club to join Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers in the United States in 2016.
However, Taylor's move across the pond was short-lived as he agreed to terminate his contract after just five months, having made 12 appearances.
He returned to English football with Ipswich in the Championship during the second half of the 2016/17 season, before signing a two-year contract with Peterborough.
The final years of his career saw him move again, this time to Australia after signing for Wellington Phoenix. He also enjoyed a brief spell in India with Odisha FC before returning to Willington and eventually retiring in September 2021.
He made a quick move into management and accepted the role at Gulf United in January 2022, where he won back-to-back promotions, and is now embarking on a new project in the United Arab Emirates with new club Al Qabila.
