With their brand new mega-rich owners at the helm, Newcastle United supporters have been understandably excited to see what direction the club’s future will take.
And while we might not have a crystal ball out our disposal, we do have the next best thing - Football Manager.
The popular video game franchise is renowned for its meticulous detail and authentic approach to the world of, well, football management, and we thought we’d take a look five years into the future to see exactly what the lay of the land is on Tyneside.
Fast forward to 2026, and it’s all change at St. James’ Park.
Just one member of the Toon Army’s current side is still in the match day squad, and real life boss Eddie Howe is long, long gone.
Disappointingly, the wait for a Premier League title - or any domestic silverware, for that matter - is still ongoing, but the Magpies delivered a huge success to their (virtual) fanbase with an unexpected Europa League triumph in 2026.
Here’s hoping it’s a sign of things to come in the real world.
Check out Newcastle’s dazzling new squad, according to Football Manager 2022, below...
1. Manager: Luis Enrique
Eddie Howe doesn’t last long on Tyneside, and is relieved of duties on March 12th 2022. Subsequent tenures from Erik ten Hag, Lucien Favre, and Roberto Martinez prove fruitless, before former Spain boss Luis Enrique comes in in 2025 and leads the Magpies to a Europa League triumph. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2. GK: Altay Bayindir
The Toon Army sign the Turkish international from Benfica in 2026. By that time, Bayindir has 38 caps for his country. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty Images
3. RB: Tino Livramento
Still only 23 in 2026, Livramento racks up almost 200 appearances for Southampton before moving to Tyneside. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) | Getty Images
4. CB: Lucas Verissimo
Verissimo arrives from Benfica in 2024, and establishes himself as an experienced head at the heart of Newcastle’s backline. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images