Nolberto Solano: The Legendary Latin American Assister at Newcastle United

‘Nobby’ arrived at Newcastle United after an outstanding time at Boca Juniors. – Credit: AFP

Several years have passed since Nolberto Solano moved away from the Premier League, an English championship in which he managed to shine leading the offense of a beloved Newcastle United in nine seasons spread over two stages. Even though he now remains retired – fulfilling the role of coach at a second-rate institution in Sweden – his figure still generates memories in the United Kingdom.

You may be interested in: Great goal by Sergio Peña with subtle definition from the edge of the area for the victory of Malmo vs Degerfors IF in the Swedish league

From the Premier organization itself they surrendered to the talent shown by the Peruvian Solano in all the clubs he spent a decade at: Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham. In each of them he left his scoring signature as well as his genius when generating assists. Precisely in that area no South American has been able to surpass him, which is why ‘Ñol’, to this day, is the top Latin American assister in British football.

‘Ñol’ defended the Newcastle shirt for a decade in the PL. | VIDEO: YouTube

With a huge postcard showing the image of a young ‘Maestrito’ in his first adventures with the ‘magpies’, the Premier League boasted of the international legacy of the former Inca midfielder. “There were many great Hispanic playmakers in the PL, but Nolberto Solano takes the cake,” was the initial message and then underlined his importance in the history of NUFC: “The authentic ones remember how impactful he was for Newcastle United.”

You may be interested: Mauro Cantoro assured that Gianluca Lapadula cannot be compared to Oliver Sonne: “He played for AC Milan. He had another back”

On that same frequency, the PL highlighted the praiseworthy statistics collected by Solano that elevate him as the best South American assister above other established legends. In total, ‘Ñol’ made 62 assists in nine cycles with Newcastle, surpassing two important Argentines in the historical table: Sergio Agüero and Carlos Tévez with 47 and 46 passes, respectively. Behind on the list are the Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia with 36 assists and the Chilean Alexis Sánchez with 31 passes.

Nolberto Solano is highlighted by the PL as the historic Latin American assister of the championship – Credit: Premier League

Newcastle, to the surprise of many, turned towards the South American market at the end of the 90’s. The focus was Argentina. There he was surprised by the rising pace of a young Peruvian named Nolberto Solano, who to date stood out in Boca Juniors alongside the legendary Diego Armando Maradona. Precisely the eternal ’10’ of Argentina gave him the pseudonym ‘Maestrito’. “The Peruvian is a Master with the ball at his feet, eh,” he mentioned in a training session where free kicks were practiced, highlighting Nolberto’s enviable punch.

You may be interested in: Sebastien Pineau adds and continues: new goal with Austin II in the MLS Next Pro

There wasn’t much to say: ‘Ñol’ was the footballer chosen to reinforce NUFC’s offensive block. The negotiations moved quickly and were closed in the blink of an eye. He arrived in the United Kingdom in the 1998/99 academic year and his good work impacted everyone. He did not go unnoticed. In his first experience in Europe he celebrated six times while playing 38 games.

Nolberto Solano is considered a legend in Newcastle – Credit: Daily Mail

What would come next was his confirmation as an elite athlete. He remained from 1998 to 2004 at St James’ Park, also facing unforgettable Champions League matches. A much bigger challenge arrived for the 2004/05 season: Aston Villa. Although he had an important connection with Newcastle, he had to leave briefly to continue establishing himself in the first world. The jump was beneficial, because he enjoyed continuity, gained popularity and scored one of the best goals of the championship.

“At the club I had great moments. The fans voted me player of the year. It was a season that I enjoyed. I wanted to continue having a leading role. I have no regrets and it helped me continue growing,” Solano recalled in an interview with ONCE magazine. In a matter of three cycles he won the affection of the fans, but he had to put an end to it to have his revenge with the ‘magpies’.

‘Nobby’ gave a masterful definition of chalaca with Aston Villa. | VIDEO: YouTube

Established as a recognized footballer in the PL, ‘Ñol’ returned in style to Newcastle playing in the 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons. It was then that the Peruvian realized that his era with ‘The Magpies’ came to an end. So he left – established as a true legend – in search of new horizons. There appeared the possibility of signing for West Ham for just one season. He didn’t look out of place: he scored four goals in 23 appearances.

With all that, he decided to leave the United Kingdom to embark on a new adventure in the ‘Old Continent’ by joining AE Larisa from Greece. What came next was the beginning of the end of a majestic career: the return to Peru with the Universitario shirt, with which he won the Descentralizado 2009, the return to the United Kingdom, but in silver divisions. As it was, he finally spent time at Leicester City, Hull City and Hartlepool United.

Nolberto Solano was champion with the ‘U’ in 2009 – Credit: Agencia Andina
2023-09-27 00:43:59
#Premier #League #highlighted #Nolberto #Solano #historic #record #shocking #Newcastle