Northern Ireland International defender and former Newcastle United player Aaron Hughes has retired from professional football.
At thirty-nine years of age, Aaron played his final game yesterday in a Euro Qualifier at Belarus, which Northern Ireland were able to win 0-1.
This is the tweet that Aaron has sent out:
So my professional playing career has finally come to an end and I’m officially retired! Not sure where the time went, but what an incredible journey it’s been. Thank you to everyone who helped and supported me along the way.
I have quite literally lived the dream!
Thank you— Aaron Hughes (@AaronHughes18) June 12, 2019
Hughes started his professional career at Newcastle United when he joined as a youth player in 1996 and made his debut the following year at Barcelona.
Newcastle United is still his most represented club with 279 appearances.
We remember Aaron as an extremely dependable centre-back who often filled in quite adeptly on the right.
It was a massive shock to us when he was sold to Aston Villa for £1M under the tenuous spell of Graeme Souness in the summer of 2015.
This was a decision that haunted the club who in the following years suffered massive woes defensively. I remember back in those days, my father often saying how much Newcastle could use Aaron Hughes back at the club.
He has represented Northern Ireland 112 times and most recently played for Hearts in the Scottish Premier division.
We wish Aaron all the best in retirement and still shake our heads at the day he was sold and then replaced by Alain Boumsong.
205 comments so far
The mighty wyn
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:18 PM
Comment #81Are we saying it’s only the Twitter stuff that is false but the original statements from bzg are ok
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:18 PM
Comment #82Well I want to stay optimistic about this but the frog is starting to make sense.
Supporting Newcastle has never been so testing.
Me and my Dad used to drive up from South Wales to home games and I’ve seen some great players and Wayne Fereday.
If this takeover doesn’t go through I just don’t think I can go back.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:18 PM
Comment #83Bills,
If Rafa doesn’t sign a new deal and the take over doesn’t happen, who exactly are these experienced and ambitious managers who’d jump at the chance to take over, I’ll give we’ll get an experienced one but you can kiss ambition goodbye. We have just had a gift horse come riding in only to be very publicly undermined and hamstrung at every obstacle. Unlike previous managers who have taken their pieces of silver and told us we can’t compete Rafa has laid bare the extent of Mike Ashleys ambitions for the club so that the whole footballing world now know the score, if you honestly think a manger who is both experienced AND ambitious is going to come in and fight Mike Ashley’s relegation battles then you are deluded, we have one of the best managers in the game who has put his reputation on the line after being shafted time after time. Getting Rafa was a once in a generation piece of luck, it’s not going to happen again under Mike Ashley .
johnboy
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:20 PM
Comment #84So if Twitter, LinkedIn etc, has all been an elaborate hoax. Can DubaiMicky also be an elaborate hoaxer who’s been on the blog for ages building up to this! ?
ShaytoStay
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:20 PM
Comment #85Agreed jail.
Ashley knows selling know he’ll make the 350, with his investment and without Rafa not a chance he’ll get that again
DavidKelly9
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:21 PM
Comment #86I think people just need to calm down a bit here the no comment saga has got everybody on edge and people are jumping on every little thing what do we no a price HAS been agreed the previous fakeovers as the frog would say never got this far Staveley bid 3 times as proved by the one decent north east reporter george caulkin but the big thing not one bid was accepted. Fat Mike came out in public an rubbished her bid as it contained relegation clauses etc but the most important thing was the bids from Staveley did not match the price he wanted. 2nd takeover reported interest from Kenyon Fat Mike spoke public again to say a deal was further on however as we all no no bid was received. Regarding this bid the big news for me is that a price has been agreed already we are further on then any bid yes they might be little add ons from Fat Mike but let the lawyers do their work no 350m takeover if a major football club will be played out over twitter or any social media it will be done behind closed doors as it should be keep calm and let them get on with it
ShaytoStay
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:25 PM
Comment #87Davidkelly9 agreed.
jane
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:25 PM
Comment #88i think we will find out about Rafa’s future before the sale. what do others think?
jane
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:26 PM
Comment #89i think the sale will just drift on for ages with no announcement that it’s not going to happen.
bill
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:26 PM
Comment #90DavidKelly9, I concur.
jane
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:27 PM
Comment #91and in the meantime sometime in the next few week it will come to light that Rafa is staying.
DavidKelly9
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:27 PM
Comment #92And all this fake twitter acount crap come on man get a grip Mark Douglas has reported that he has spoken to the BZG 3 times do we all think he went straight to the twitter account to beg for updates?? No he will of contacted tge direct and if the twitter tool was also manning the BZG phoneline too rhen I will hold my hands up but I am sure that its not a piss take and the sheikh wants to buy our football club
DavidKelly9
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:29 PM
Comment #93Sorry to all rant now over !
jane
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:29 PM
Comment #94we’ll sign some players and the season will start and we’ll be a more comfortable mid-table.
bill
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:29 PM
Comment #95I don’t know Jane, but I would think that those events may well coincide.
jane
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:30 PM
Comment #96and brexit will happen before the end of the year.
The mighty wyn
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:31 PM
Comment #97Davidkelly9 no worries I think we all want to have a rant cos it’s so frustrating. Plus the fact we’ve been had before.
bill
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:31 PM
Comment #98Mackems on the loose on twitter.
The Sheikh'sMate
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:34 PM
Comment #99I’m not saying it IS fake.. just hoping it’s NOT fake.
But what’s to stop phatt boy receiving a legit offer from whoever then throwing a spanner in the works?.. Thats the part I’m worried about… That barsteward is capable of anything, and if he’s got tax people on his back and deals aren’t going his way, do you think he would give a shit about our glorious club… thats what I’m worried about
bill
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:36 PM
Comment #100My guess is that transfer targets have already been identified by Rafa and that once all the paperwork, etc, is completed things will move very quickly. That is my take on it for what it is worth.
I got the Brexit deadlock predicted correctly, if that is any indication of my foresight.
The Sheikh'sMate
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:36 PM
Comment #101Jane@88
That’s what I’m thinking
RobLeenio
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:38 PM
Comment #102I’ve been watching that fishing documentary. I’m hooked
magtoon
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:39 PM
Comment #103What we have got to hope is that Fat Mike needs the NUFC dosh to further his high street interests, and he is sufficiently pissed off by all of the negative feedback he gets from us toon supporters
NY Mag
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:40 PM
Comment #104Rob,
You’ll have to come up with better jokes than that to break the tension 🙂
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:41 PM
Comment #105In an attempt to cheer myself up I watched a documentary on eggs.
Cracking!
Toon44
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:42 PM
Comment #106No takeover is going to happen, nothing to see here, turn the lights off and go home.
jon
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:44 PM
Comment #107No tension on my part, it’s happening, going to take time, probably another couple of weeks, grab a beer and chillaxe.
🙂
The mighty wyn
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:45 PM
Comment #108Rob – please convince me it’s still happening. I know you have always been sure it’s just a matter of time. Not winding you up just panicking were headed down a familiar road
Toon44
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:45 PM
Comment #109Read a book the other day
Ache and pains by
Arth ritis.
RobLeenio
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:47 PM
Comment #110I was taken in by that Twitter account and I know others were too. It was pretty convincing, to be fair.
Just because that was a hoax does NOT mean that the whole thing is fake. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.
No way in the world that the heads of terms agreement is fake. That has been signed by both parties and submitted to the FA, which means that the key part of the statements is not a hoax.
Folk who do this to other folk are literally the scum of the earth. This should be a time when we all look forward to a brighter future. Instead we’re all looking over our shoulders waiting for the next kick up the @rse.
Hang tight and keep the faith lads and lasses, the storm clouds are soon to break, metaphorically and literally, and the sun will shine on our club once more.
HWTL
Diddly
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:50 PM
Comment #111Bill for what its worth i agree
jon
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:51 PM
Comment #112Is it only me and thee Rob that are (ridiculously) positive.
🙂
I have seen nothing, from anywhere to say that this is not happening.
ctommo
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:51 PM
Comment #113Well said Rob. Hang tight folks and stop getting stressed over it all.
I dunno if I’m getting more annoyed about the twitter panic, or more annoyed by these books which keep falling on my head. . .
But I’ve only got my shelf to blame.
bill
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:53 PM
Comment #114Stay positive Rob.
Twitter crap, I believe; I think, if I could be bothered I could undo the whole thing based on timings.
jon
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:54 PM
Comment #115My dog is sitting in front of me, starting straight at me, “you really believe, don’t you”, yes I do
jon
Jun 12, 2019 at 7:56 PM
Comment #116staring*
stan anderson
Jun 12, 2019 at 8:00 PM
Comment #117If this is the Slug slime ball inventing another sale to shift attention from the Gaffa s contract negotiations I hope season ticket sales slump if he’s playing games again.But.
bill
Jun 12, 2019 at 8:01 PM
Comment #118The problem we have is that we have been bitten so many times that we are obviously sceptical. What can we do other than wait?
Chancel My MBembaship
Jun 12, 2019 at 8:01 PM
Comment #119Can’t believe Real Madrid have just spent 47 million quid on a left back, taking their summer spending to 300 million Euros. I wonder what the La Liga president Javier Tebas thinks of that? He was whining about Man City and PSG spending crazy amounts of money, yet conveniently ignored Real’s usual spending sprees. Barca have been know to spend a pretty penny on players too. Total hypocrisy.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 12, 2019 at 8:04 PM
Comment #120Bugger it I’m off to watch France v Norway in women’s World Cup.
I will still believe in the takeover but it’s getting stressful now, must be the only club on the planet that can cause unrest even in the off season. Give me strength