£5.7m Newcastle signing announces retirement after controversial striker decision

Former Newcastle United striker Xisco has declared his retirement from playing at the age of 37.

The Spaniard joined Newcastle from Deportivo La Coruna for £5.7 million in 2008, amid controversy. The transfer, as well as the loan acquisition of Ignacio Gonzalez from Valencia, resulted in Kevin Keegan’s second dismissal as manager.

In his memoirs, Keegan stated, “It wasn’t Mike [Ashley]’s beer-guzzling that bothered me that day.” It was the fact that Tony Jimenez, the executive in charge of Newcastle’s transfer business, informed me that we were paying £5.7 million on a Spanish player named Xisco, whom no one at the club had ever seen play.

“On the same day the Xisco bombshell was dropped, I had also found out a Uruguayan by the name of Ignacio Gonzalez was joining us as a ‘favour’ for two South American agents.”

Xisco scored on his Newcastle debut, coming off the bench in a 2-1 defeat to Hull City at St James’ Park. It would be his sole goal for the club, and he would go on to make another ten appearances for the Magpies before his contract was terminated in 2013.

 

Xisco spent time on loan at Racing Santander and Deportivo before moving to Córdoba.

He later played for Mallorca, Muangthong United, Osasuna, Penarol, and Alcoron before joining Atletico Baleares in 2023, where he would finish his career.

On January 3, he made his final appearance as captain in a 0-0 draw with Linares in the Spanish third division, and he announced his retirement the following month.

Xisco spoke to Spanish news site Ultima Hora about his playing career but did not mention his time at Newcastle.

“It was at Dépor that I made my debut in the First Division and scored my first goals, fulfilling the dream of any player,” he told reporters. “The most rewarding experiences were the promotions with Córdoba and Osasuna, when I felt immediately linked with the club’s ideology and we established a large family.

“The pity has been that due to injuries and other issues, I have not been able to contribute as much as I would have liked to the team [Atletico Baleares].”