Steve Harper, who is the current second-choice goalkeeper behind Alan McGregor at Hull, looks to have set his sights on becoming a coach once he retires.
Part of the Newcastle team that reached the FA Cup Final in 1999, Steve Harper is a Magpie through and through and could yet be plotting a Toon return of sorts, though in an altogether different guise.
Now in the twilight years of his career, the Seaham-born goalkeeper already came close to retirement once, only to come back to the game with a short-term deal at Hull City.
An experienced and valued back-up keeper for the Tigers, Harper featured in the club’s famous FA Cup semi-final victory and has nevertheless racked up 16 Premier League appearances in just over a season-and-a-half at the KC Stadium.
However, when quizzed on his future plans by the Hartlepool Mail in a recent interview, it appeared that the former Newcastle favourite had one thing in his sights: management.
“I’m 40 on Saturday, and I’ve got my level four (UEFA A Licence) now,” he told the news provider.
“I do enjoy the coaching at Newcastle School for Boys, and I’ll look to go into that in the future.”
Harper would join a rare breed of goalkeeper-turned-manager, with former Southampton and Reading boss Nigel Adkins the most recent high-profile former no.1 to take to the dugout after hanging up his boots.
But with the ex-Toon star still boasting strong ties with the St James’ Park club, it would not be a massive shock to see him return to the Magpies in some capacity.
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