Jermaine Jenas has called that 2003-04 season at Newcastle United “the most enjoyable” time of his career. Exactly 20 years ago, the former midfielder was announcing himself as a standout prospect in the Premier League.
While the Magpies were gutted to miss out on Champions League football come May, sparking the beginning of the end for Sir Bobby Robson, Jenas scooped the PFA Young Player of the Year award. The honour crowned two years of hard work under a manager he idolised as a kid.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Newcastle man revealed how one phone call from Robson set his heart on a Tyneside move. Jenas said: “When people ask about my most enjoyable times or even the best times, that 2003-04 season when I won Young Player of the Year was up there with the best years I’ve ever had. I grew up on Italia 90. Sir Bobby was a god in my eyes.
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“I remember being a kid at Forest, 18 years old, and Paul Hart calls me into his office and said ‘There’s three clubs that want you. Leeds, but you’re not going there. Manchester United are prepared to bid £3million, because Sir Alex (Ferguson) said it’s an honour to play for the club. Newcastle have bid £5million, and the car is going to be here in an hour’.
“I was in the car and I got a phone call from Sir Bobby. It was just like heaven. Hearing that enthusiastic ‘you alright son, I can’t wait to meet you, I’ve been watching you, you’ll start for me next week’. I made the decision then.”
Jenas also shared an emotional story about Robson during his earlier days at Newcastle. Ahead of a crunch Tyne-Wear derby in April, the legendary manager placed his trust in the then-youngster despite having a shocker during training.
“Where I always show him love and what epitomes Sir Bobby is I had arguably the worst two weeks of training I’ve had in my life,” Jenas added. “The ball was going under my foot. The lads are screaming ‘How much?’ It was brutal.
“On the Friday we trained at St James’ Park before the game, which was Sunderland away. He came to me and said ‘You’re starting tomorrow, so get your head right’. I remember saying ‘What have you been watching?’
“I played so well. We won 1-0. I then remember a few of the players being like ‘That’s what all the fuss is about’. No other manager would do that. He put his faith in me and did so throughout my Newcastle career.”
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