George Georgiadis reveals what happened when he returned to Newcastle United

Georgiadis, signed from Panathinaikos in the summer of 1998, spent a season at Newcastle United before returning to his native Greece.

And the midfielder, now head of the youth academy at PAOK Thessaloniki, visited Newcastle a year ago. However, the stadium’s security staff didn’t recognise him.

Georgiadis told the club’s matchday programme: “It was very strange. I went to the stadium and I very kindly asked the security if I could see the stadium again, because I was a form player, but they didn’t allow me at first.

“Then I said my name and they found my name on the second floor. There’s a list on the wall of all these internationals who played for Newcastle. One guy saw this and he came down and very kindly invited me to the dressing room and I got out to the stadium.

“It was very nice. Now I’m planning to come with my family to watch a home game.”

Georgiadis only started a handful of Premier League games during his year on Tyneside. He joined PAOK Salonika at the end of the 1998/99 season.

However, Georgiadis still says his time on Tyneside was a positive experience.

“It was a great experience,” said the former Greece international. “Newcastle’s a great club with great supporters, and it’s a nice city. My family – my children – are Newcastle fans now. It was great.”