Newcastle United cult hero lured out of retirement after two years by former teammate

Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle United teammate. Cisse is a St James’ Park cult hero having joined the club in January 2012 and went on to form part of an iconic trio with Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa. Cisse joined Newcastle from German side SC Freiburg for £9mGetty The striker created many memorable moments for the Geordies but arguably the most unforgettable was his outside of the foot curler against Chelsea in 2012, which formed one half of one of the best braces in top-flight history. He scored 44 times for Newcastle in 131 appearances. But most fans remember him for his first half season on Tyneside, where he helped Alan Pardew‘s Toon squad finish fifth and secure a Europa League place. The striker scored 13 goals in 14 top-flight games as he took the Premier League by storm. He left Newcastle four years later after their relegation to the Championship, moving abroad to Chinese side SD Luneng. Cisse later went on to play in Turkey and France before he was invited to train with non-league club Macclesfield in 2023, who he did not join permanently. He was without a club for nearly two years and was signed to The Player Agency who help high-profile players look for clubs overseas after injuries and/or prolong their careers. It is an opportunity granted to Cisse thanks to Steven Taylor who is now the head coach of the newly formed Al Qabila who play in the UAE Third Division League, the fourth tier of Emirati football. Cisse said: “I’m thankful to The Player for the opportunity to enter the market in the UAE.” The Senegalese striker played with Taylor 43 times while they were on Tyneside, and the former centre-back has handed Cisse a deal until the end of the season. Taylor retired in 2021 and has been coaching in Dubai for the past three years. Currently Al Qabila sit fourth in the league, 21 points away from promotion which goes to first and second place. Cisse scored an iconic goal against Chelsea – now he’s back out of retirementGetty Cisse is a reminder to Newcastle times of very different times. Bar that first season when he helped Newcastle finish fifth, the majority of Cisse’s time was spent fighting relegation, but he was still extremely popular with the fans. Currently, the Magpies are Carabao Cup champions after beating Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday, earning their first domestic trophy in 70 years. They are also closing in on Champions League football, sitting sixth in the league, but can jump up to fourth if they win their game in hand against Crystal Palace. And with the Premier League almost certain to earn a fifth Champions League spot this season, entering European football looks to be made an easier task for head coach Eddie Howe. A feat he completed in 2023/24 after a fourth-placed finish the campaign prior. The Newcastle side now features Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and many more who have etched their name into club history. But players like Cisse and Taylor will always have a place in fans’ hearts.

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Newcastle United cult hero lured out of retirement after two years by former teammate

Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle United teammate.

Cisse is a St James’ Park cult hero having joined the club in January 2012 and went on to form part of an iconic trio with Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa.

Cisse joined Newcastle from German side SC Freiburg for £9m

The striker created many memorable moments for the Geordies but arguably the most unforgettable was his outside of the foot curler against Chelsea in 2012, which formed one half of one of the best braces in top-flight history.

He scored 44 times for Newcastle in 131 appearances.

But most fans remember him for his first half season on Tyneside, where he helped Alan Pardew‘s Toon squad finish fifth and secure a Europa League place.

The striker scored 13 goals in 14 top-flight games as he took the Premier League by storm.

He left Newcastle four years later after their relegation to the Championship, moving abroad to Chinese side SD Luneng.

Cisse later went on to play in Turkey and France before he was invited to train with non-league club Macclesfield in 2023, who he did not join permanently.

He was without a club for nearly two years and was signed to The Player Agency who help high-profile players look for clubs overseas after injuries and/or prolong their careers.

It is an opportunity granted to Cisse thanks to Steven Taylor who is now the head coach of the newly formed Al Qabila who play in the UAE Third Division League, the fourth tier of Emirati football.

Cisse said: “I’m thankful to The Player for the opportunity to enter the market in the UAE.”

The Senegalese striker played with Taylor 43 times while they were on Tyneside, and the former centre-back has handed Cisse a deal until the end of the season.

Taylor retired in 2021 and has been coaching in Dubai for the past three years.

Currently Al Qabila sit fourth in the league, 21 points away from promotion which goes to first and second place.

Cisse scored an iconic goal against Chelsea – now he’s back out of retirement

Cisse is a reminder to Newcastle times of very different times.

Bar that first season when he helped Newcastle finish fifth, the majority of Cisse’s time was spent fighting relegation, but he was still extremely popular with the fans.

Currently, the Magpies are Carabao Cup champions after beating Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday, earning their first domestic trophy in 70 years.

They are also closing in on Champions League football, sitting sixth in the league, but can jump up to fourth if they win their game in hand against Crystal Palace.

And with the Premier League almost certain to earn a fifth Champions League spot this season, entering European football looks to be made an easier task for head coach Eddie Howe.

A feat he completed in 2023/24 after a fourth-placed finish the campaign prior.

The Newcastle side now features Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and many more who have etched their name into club history.

But players like Cisse and Taylor will always have a place in fans’ hearts.