Even on his final home appearance for Newcastle United, Kieran Trippier proved why he has been such an excellent leader for the club in a message to William Osula.
Osula put Newcastle United 2-0 up against West Ham United on Sunday in a game that marked Trippier’s final ever game on the club’s books at St James’ Park.
Newcastle would end up winning the game 3-1, thanks to Nick Woltemade’s opener and a brace from the aforementioned Dane.
Osula was brilliant for Newcastle against West Ham but Trippier was not impressed by his Michael Jackson celebration.
Trippier told Osula to stop dancing like Michael Jackson in a competitive game
Speaking to Newcastle United’s official media channel, Trippier said: “That’s Will for you!
“We were 2-0 up and we’ve still got a long time to play and anything can happen in football.
“So, I said to him: ‘You better get that glove off now’. He’s doing his Michael Jackson, whatever he’s doing.
“I said ‘Get your glove off now’. Not in an angry way. He threw it off and I said ‘Listen, we’ve still got a long way to play’.
“But, listen, that’s his moment and that’s just him as a character.”
After scoring his first goal – which had come in the 19th minute against a team fighting for their lives – Osula donned a white glove and copied some of pop star Jackson’s most famous dance moves.
It is a measure of the man that he takes his role as a leader so seriously that he’s prepared to undertake it in what was effectively a dead rubber.
The day was all about Trippier and Newcastle rarely look flustered.
Still, Trippier is one of Newcastle’s most inspirational ever signings for a reason. This is a man who raised the standards on Tyneside since the minute he walked through the door almost five years ago now.
Presumably, Osula wouldn’t have done that had the game come in a different context. Trippier’s message, however, is a reminder of what Newcastle will be missing.
He has been a genuine game changer for the club. A signing to give the PIF era some credibility, he transformed pretty much everything about the club upon his arrival.
Replacing that kind of leadership must be close to impossible. Osula will have other celebrations, but Newcastle may never have another player like Trippier.
A genuine legend of the football club, Osula and his teammates need to take all the advice they can get from him while they still can.