NUFC memories shine bright for Dabizas

Oct 23 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Nikos Dabizas will never forget scoring against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light particularly as he has a giant poster capturing the moment on his living room wall in Greece. He talked to Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards

NIKOS Dabizas is enjoying some unexpected success in his twilight years as a player, but it is the memories of his time at Newcastle United which still shine brightest for the former Magpie defender.

Like many foreign imports to the North East, Dabizas admits he was not sure what to expect when he ran out at the Stadium of Light for his first taste of a Wear-Tyne derby in February 2000.

It is a moment which made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and a player who still regards Newcastle as his second home claimed he had never experienced an occasion like it because of the way in which it gripped the entire population of both proud cities.

Now 35, Dabizas could be winding down his career following his return to his homeland – Greece – in 2005 after seven years in England. Instead the centre-back, who won the European Championships with Greece in 2004, has just signed a new two-year contract with Larissa.

While the Thessaly-based outfit are not one of the traditional giants of Greek football when compared to the likes of Olympiacos and Panathinaikos they won the Greek Cup last season and appeared in the Uefa Cup this year with Dabizas as captain.

It has been a happy few years for their veteran skipper, but nothing compared to what he experienced with Newcastle following a £2m move from Olympiacos in 1998.

“My time at Newcastle was the happiest period of my career,” said Dabizas, who was an important member of the squad which, under Sir Bobby Robson, qualified for the second group stage of the Champions League in 2003. “I still have a lot of affection for the club and the city and I get back there as much as I can.

“It’s like a second home to me. I love the place and I have nothing but good memories of playing for the club. I still follow the team closely and I will watch the Sunderland game on television in Greece.

“I’m surprised the club are struggling at the moment, but once they get some stability I’m confident they will get back to their true position near the top of the table. Newcastle is a massive club and I’m desperate for them to do well.” Although Dabizas had plenty of memorable times in England and still cherishes his European Championship winner’s medal from Portugal, he claimed his winning goal against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in February 2002, remains unique.

He said: “I will never forget the games against Sunderland because they were so special and I’ll certainly never forget scoring against them at the Stadium of Light. I wouldn’t say it was the pinnacle of my career, but it is one of my favourite memories.

“Whenever I am in Newcastle the fans always remind me of that game and the goal I scored and people still leave messages on my website thanking me for scoring that goal. I don’t think I’ve scored many more important ones and none have given me as much pleasure.

“I have a giant poster of me celebrating that goal with the lads on the wall in my front room in Greece. It is a constant reminder to me every time I sit down to watch television and it also shows what it means to me. When I scored, I lost my mind. For 10 seconds my head went completely blank, I was like a mad man, a man possessed, it was a wonderful moment. It was just sheer joy, nothing else. It was a magical feeling, fantastic.

“To score in a game, which is so important, on enemy territory, it doesn’t get any better than that. I didn’t score many either so I wasn’t expecting to have something like that to celebrate. I can just remember seeing it go in and then, it’s a blur, cheering, shouting and the lads jumping on me.

“It was pretty crazy, but it’s moments like that which stick out in your mind and I will always look back on it as a special moment in my career.”

Nevertheless, although Dabizas was the hero on that occasion, he endured a rather more difficult game against Sunderland two years earlier when he and the rest of the Magpies defence struggled to come to terms with Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips.

Newcastle had taken an early lead with goals from Didier Domi and Marino Helder, but Quinn twice set up Phillips to salvage a draw and Dabizas took much of the blame, having labelled the partnership too predictable during the derby build-up.

Dabizas said: “To be fair to Sunderland supporters they are like Newcastle’s. They are very passionate and they made the Stadium of Light an intimidating place to go. The noise was incredible.

“They were always physical games. I remember playing against Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips. Niall was always a tough opponent because he was so big and strong, difficult to deal with in the air.

“We were two goals up against them and they scored two goals to get a draw. I think I took some of the blame because people pointed the finger at the defence, but it was a little harsh in my opinion. That wasn’t such a happy memory.”

And the centre-back, who tries to visit friends in Newcastle at least three or four times a year and who has stayed in contact with former team-mates Shay Given and Steve Harper, is predicting another close affair this weekend.

He said: “It doesn’t surprise me that Newcastle have never lost at the Stadium of Light because they have been the better team for a long time, but that could all change at the weekend. It’s impossible to try and predict, but Sunderland will be desperate to get that first win.”