Jonjo Shelvey: 'I'll always have great memories of Newcastle' | OneFootball

The central midfielder brought his professional playing career, spanning 18 years, to a close as he takes his first steps into management with third-tier United Arab Emirates side Arabian Falcons.

Three years may have passed since departing the Magpies but Shelvey still speaks highly of his seven-year stint on Tyneside, which involved relegation, promotion, survival battles and the early stages of the club's resurgence.

"It's the club that I attach myself to the most," he told newcastleunited.com. "If there's any games on involving clubs that I've played for and Newcastle are on at the same time, I'll always choose to watch them.

"I loved my time there. I didn't want to leave and only left because of the security in terms of what Nottingham Forest were offering and what Newcastle couldn't offer. That's football at the end of the day, though, and there's no hard feelings.

"For me, it was great and even when I left, my wife and children stayed in Newcastle. I moved out to Turkey by myself and then I would commute to Nottingham and Burnley everyday. My wife didn't want to leave and my kids were more than happy to stay because they were so settled.

"In terms of reflecting on my career, I'll always have great memories of Newcastle and it was the club where I felt the most happy and comfortable in my whole career. I'm very grateful for Newcastle."

Arriving from Swansea City in January 2016, Shelvey's debut set the tone for what was to follow over the years, starring in a 2-1 home win against West Ham United.

It was a number of personal highlights for the six-time England international, who had featured for the likes of Charlton Athletic and Liverpool before joining Newcastle, under Rafa Benítez's management, from the Swans.

Shelvey added: "There was a lot of ups and downs and I'd call it a transition period when I was there, in terms of the ownership and having a few managers.

"My debut was a great day. After the game, I remember going into a Chinese down in Chinatown and the whole restaurant was singing my name!

"I really enjoyed the Championship season too. We had such a good team spirit and, as soon as we got promoted, there was a feeling we could maintain our Premier League status. That's what we did and to represent the club so many times, being captain on certain occasions, was amazing for me and my family."

Shelvey's first full campaign at St. James' Park resulted in silverware as Newcastle gained promotion as Championship winners, pipping Brighton & Hove Albion by a single point on a dramatic final day of the 2016/17 campaign.

Despite a number of squad numbers departing the club, following relegation from the Premier League, Shelvey's decision to remain on Tyneside proved a worthwhile one, recording five goals and nine assists as well as featuring in the 2016/17 Championship Team of the Season alongside former Magpies striker Dwight Gayle.

Shelvey, who racked up over 200 competitive outings for Newcastle, said: "I had no intention of leaving. I came to Newcastle and I was buzzing to be there. I'd played at St. James' Park against Newcastle a number of times and I knew what the passion was like from the fans.

"You take it personally when you get relegated and feel like it's your duty to take the club back to where it should be and once was.

"We lost the first two games in the Championship [against Fulham and Huddersfield Town] and I was thinking 'oh no' but then you looked around the dressing room and knew that there was too much quality to not go straight back up.

"We achieved it quite quickly in terms of the months in the season and, personally, it was a great year for me. I think the main thing that helped me was playing so many games and playing on a Saturday and then midweek, which I really enjoyed. I formed some great partnerships on the pitch, especially with Dwighty.

"Those two years were the standout ones for me in terms of the performances on a consistent basis. It was a great time."

Despite working in the UAE, a country targeted by thousands of Iranian drone attacks in recent weeks after the outbreak of the Iran war, Shelvey believes he is in a safe environment as he embarks into management for the first time with Arabian Falcons.

The prospect of coaching for Shelvey has always been "in the back of my mind" as he aims to steer the Dubai-based club towards the UAE Pro League - the top division of the Emirati football league system.

Shelvey, sat on a Zoom call whilst in Dubai, explained: "I've been thrown into the coaching side of it because our manager left, when the war started, to go on holiday.

"He asked me to fill in and the owners got wind of the feedback from the players. After the first session, they rang to offer me the job. I'd have to credit Eddie [Howe] for that one because I used the majority of his sessions!

"I really enjoyed doing the coaching side and I knew when I moved here, I was never going to play at a high level again so it seemed like the obvious next step and a one I'm really excited to get into.

"Throughout my career, whenever I had a good training session, I always jotted it down so I've got that folder, if you like, of training sessions and thought it would stand me in good stead when I got older.

"When I left Newcastle and started to get to the point when I moved to Turkey, I did a lot of coaching out there with the younger lads but when I joined Burnley, I finished off my UEFA B Licence and then cracked straight on with my UEFA A which I've finished."

Initially joining Arabian Falcons as a player in September, Shelvey is adapting to a shift in roles for a club co-owned by former Crystal Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon, while former West Ham man Ravel Morrison is a notable figure amongst the playing squad.

With over 270 Premier League appearances to his name, Shelvey is keen to share his wealth of playing experience with his youthful squad, many of whom possess a strong interest in English top-flight football.

"Coming here at the start of the season and being appointed captain, there's a lot of lads that are very raw and young, watching a lot of the Premier League and being in awe of those footballers," he said.

"I've came in and demanded what it takes to play at that top level, with the high standards and drive. That's helped me make that transition from player to manager.

"They've all been spot on. It's just weird that they've gone from calling me 'bro' to now calling me 'gaffer' but they're all great lads. The club pay for a villa for them so they all live there.

"It's a good set-up. The club, in general, is very passionate about where they want to get to along with the owners. They want to get to the top league as quickly as possible.

"They've just opened up an Academy here so, at least now, there's a pathway for young players to get to the first-team and it's a club that is trying to do things properly.

"They've leaned on me, Jason and Rav in terms of what it's like back in England with a professional set-up. We're just trying to help as much as we can."

Shelvey scored 18 goals in all competitions for the Magpies but his most important strike, arguably, came during a vital 1-0 win away at Leeds United.

The midfielder's late free-kick at Elland Road proved the beginning of a significant shift in results for Eddie Howe's side, who became the first team in Premier League history to avoid relegation despite failing to win their opening 14 matches.

"The goalkeeper done us a favour, really, because I scuffed the life out of that free-kick!" he admitted. "You can't say that moment is the reason why they've been flying in the last few years but it obviously played a key turning point in that season.

"It was a massive win and one of those games, Newcastle versus Leeds at Elland Road, which is an intense game in terms of the fans and the passion.

"To get that win was massive and it kickstarted our run towards the back end of the season."

After three successive wins against Leeds, Everton and Aston Villa, Shelvey captained Newcastle in nine of the following 12 matches before suffering an unfortunate injury which ruled out the midfielder for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.

Despite getting "super fit" during the summer in a bid to reclaim his place in the middle of the park, Shelvey sustained a hamstring injury during a pre-season friendly against Benfica and, following surgery, faced 12 weeks on the sidelines.

"I was three of four games away from getting an extension in my deal for an extra year but I picked up a calf injury against Liverpool which hindered the last part," he explained.

"I knew I'd have to get myself fit because of where the club was going and started pre-season really well before getting a bad injury against Benfica.

"The club went on an amazing run, winning almost every week, and I knew then it would be hard for me to get back to what I was and that's when Nottingham Forest offered me a deal I couldn't really say no to.

"I said to Newcastle I would love to stay and take less money, even if it was for an extra year, but the people in charge at the time didn't want to do that."

Shelvey, however, was allowed to say his goodbyes to the Newcastle supporters after being presented onto the pitch at half-time during Newcastle's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg win against Southampton.

Amongst the post-match celebrations as the club reached their first domestic cup final since 1999, Shelvey conducted an "emotional" speech to the group before completing his transfer from Tyneside to Trentside.

"It ended quite soon but the club gave me a nice send-off, allowing me to walk around the pitch, which I was really grateful for and it was quite emotional in the changing rooms," he recalled.

"When I spoke in front of the lads, I didn't want to take away what the club had just achieved and make that situation all about me.

"I kept it short and sweet, thanking everyone involved at the club for everything and those who'd been there since I joined. I'd formed strong relationships and they are ones I still have to this day.

"I knew the trajectory of the club was only going one way and I wasn't getting any younger, picking up a few bad injuries in the past six months. It put a halt to my personal career, which was starting to become frustrating, so I didn't know if I needed a change of scenery.

"Ideally, I wanted to stay but the decision was, ultimately, was out of my hands."

It is evident the club holds a special place in Shelvey's heart, with his family continuing to live in the city whilst he carried out short stints with Nottingham Forest and Burnley as well as respective spells in Turkey with Çaykur Rizespor and Eyüpspor.

"I was meant to go to the [2023 Carabao Cup] final as I was in London but I decided not to go to the game," he added. "I got a train back to Nottingham as we had training the next day and I knew if Newcastle had won that game, I would have ended up being out all night!

"I was so happy for them when they won the Carabao Cup because I knew what it meant to the fans, the city and everyone attached to the club.

"When they beat Liverpool, I was buzzing. I thought Liverpool didn't turn up on the day but Newcastle didn't allow them to. They were over them like a rash and that was a credit to Eddie.

"I remember a lot of people I know from around the city went to the parade and you saw the pictures and wished you were there. It was amazing!"

Even after leaving, Shelvey's strong ties to the club are apparent, keeping in regular contact with his former team-mates and maintaining close bonds with long-serving staff members, visiting the club's training ground whilst recovering from a broken leg sustained whilst playing in Turkey.

Although his priorities will be focussed on making a positive start in management, Shelvey is hopeful of making a return to St. James' Park in the future.

"I'm so happy that the club is now in a much better state compared to when I was there," he added. "It's more being pleased for people who have worked at the club for so many years.

"The likes of Tony Toward, Glenn [Patterson], Thommo [Ray Thompson] the kitman, Beechy [Sean Beech] and the Doc [Paul Catterson] have all been there when it was a bit of a s***show. It's now nice for them to get those benefits and visit all the lovely stadiums.

"I still chat to a few of the lads that I played with. When I came back from Turkey, I would still see them at Close House on the golf course and I still felt connected to the club in some way as I was living in the city.

"I haven't been to a game since I left so I'll have to come back soon."