Skipper Fabricio Coloccini is as determined as ever as he seeks to guide Newcastle into Europe at some stage.
Skipper happy and wants to eventually get into Europe
Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini is determined as ever as he seeks to guide the club into Europe at some stage.
The Argentinian ace switched to St James' Park in a big-money move from Deportivo La Coruna three years ago and suffered relegation to the Championship in his first season with the Magpies.
He was not part of the exodus from the club that summer and stayed to help Newcastle back to the top flight at the first attempt and then a 12th place finish last term.
Boss Alan Pardew has made him captain despite a less than fluent command of English and he is now looking to push on and eventually secure the club a place in Europe.
Coloccini told the
Daily Telegraph: "There were a lot of players I thought were ahead of me (for the captaincy).
"Steve Harper, Shola Ameobi, Joey Barton, these are all Englishmen, big characters in the dressing room.
Honour
"I'm foreign, I didn't think I would be given such an honour but I'm so proud. My dad could not believe it. I think he has told half of Argentina.
"To be an Argentinian, playing in the Premier League and to be captain of Newcastle United. It is unusual, no?"
As regards his roller-coaster ride at St James' Park, he added: "It was a challenge for me to adapt but I never wanted to quit. That first year was difficult. I didn't speak the language, it was a new culture, new country, new style (of football) and I signed for a club with a lot of problems.
"Relegation was hard. I felt like a failure, I was ashamed, but I never thought it was a mistake to come to England.
"I wanted to prove myself to Newcastle, to English football. If I had left that summer I would have been a failure. It made me more determined."
Coloccini has previously gone on record as saying he would prefer to leave the Europa League for the year after next but amid talk of a four-year contract extension, he has reiterated his desire to help get the Magpies into Europe at some stage.
He added: "I want to stay - and I want to get Newcastle back into Europe."
