The world of football moves fast, and nowhere is that more evident than in the shifting tides of Newcastle United over the past year. As the calendar turns toward the end of 2025, the club and its supporters find themselves in a reflective mood.
It has been a year of extreme highs and complicated lows, marked most significantly by the end of a seventy-year drought for domestic silverware. While the memories of that victory remain fresh, they are inextricably linked to the name of a player who is no longer at St. James’ Park: Alexander Isak.
The story of Isak’s departure is one that still stings for many in the North East. During the summer transfer window, the Swedish striker left the club under a dark cloud. It was a move that turned sour very quickly, as Isak effectively went on strike to force a record-breaking transfer to Liverpool.
He refused to train and stayed away from pre-season matches, a decision that left a bitter taste in the mouths of those who had cheered his name. Yet, despite the acrimonious way things ended, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has shown a remarkable level of class and professionalism when discussing his former star.
In a recent interview, Howe was asked to look back on the historic Carabao Cup win that defined the club’s 2025. In that final, Newcastle triumphed with a 2-1 victory, and it was Isak who scored the decisive second goal.
It was a moment of pure quality that cemented the club’s place in history. When it was suggested to Howe that Isak might have tarnished his legacy with the way he behaved during his final months at the club, the manager chose a different path. Rather than joining in on the criticism, Howe preferred to focus on the magic of the moment itself.
Howe described Isak as an “incredible footballer,” a term he does not use lightly. He pointed out that the striker possesses a rare set of skills, doing things on the pitch that very few players in the world can replicate. Looking back at that cup-winning goal, Howe described it as “deadly,” a testament to the clinical finishing that made Isak such a fan favorite before the relationship fractured.
For the manager, the focus remains on what the club achieved as a unit and the joy that the victory brought to the city, rather than the drama that followed.
That is not to say that the manager has forgotten the difficulties of the summer. Howe has been honest about how the situation affected them personally. Earlier in the season, he admitted that the moment Isak went on strike, the dynamic between them changed forever.
For a long time, the two had enjoyed a great working relationship that was mutually beneficial. Newcastle provided the platform for Isak to become one of the most feared strikers in Europe, and in return, Isak helped the club reach milestones they hadn’t seen in decades.
However, once a player chooses to stop playing for the badge, that bond of trust is inevitably broken.
The irony of the situation has only deepened in recent days. After finally getting his wish and moving to Liverpool on deadline day, Isak’s new chapter has taken a tragic turn.
During a recent match against Tottenham Hotspur, the striker proved his worth once again by coming off the bench to break a scoreless deadlock. It was a classic Isak goal, latching onto a pass and firing it home with the precision that Newcastle fans know all too well.
But the celebration was short-lived. In the process of scoring, he suffered a heavy challenge that left him on the turf in visible pain.
Scans have since confirmed a fractured leg, an injury that will keep him on the sidelines for a very long time. It is a cruel twist of fate for a player who had just begun to settle into his new life at Anfield.
For Eddie Howe and the Newcastle supporters, the news of the injury adds another layer to a story already filled with complicated emotions. While the “relationship change” Howe mentioned remains a reality, there is still a sense of respect for the talent Isak brought to the pitch during that historic cup run.
Ultimately, the 2025 season will be remembered for the trophy that returned to Tyneside. It was a year where the club finally proved they could compete at the very top.
While Alexander Isak played a massive role in that success, his legacy will always be a subject of debate among the fans. Some will remember the strike and the forced exit, while others, like Eddie Howe, will choose to remember the “incredible footballer” who helped them dream again.
It serves as a reminder that in football, as in life, the most beautiful moments are often the most complicated.
