Newcastle United defender Fabian Schär has admitted he feels like a Geordie after four years playing at St James Park.
Schär has been with the Magpies since a €3m move from Deportivo de La Coruña in 2018, making 126 appearances in all competitions for the club in that time.
He’s been a regular in those four seasons and impressed, playing a key role under Rafa Benitez, Steve Bruce and now Eddie Howe.
It is the latter under whom he has really shone, impressing since the English coach arrived at the club in the middle of last season.
This season he has been a key cog in one of the best defences in Europe, with Newcastle only conceding 15 goals in the Premier League this season. The next best are Arsenal and Chelsea on 23, for comparison.
That’s made him a very popular figure around St James Park, particularly with Newcastle also reaching the league cup final, where they will take on Manchester United on Sunday.
“Football is like a religion in Newcastle. For many people here, the club is everything in life, the match days are sacred to them,” he told NZZ.
“You have to be in town or at the stadium at a home game to understand that. The support of the fans knows no bounds, the atmosphere at home in St. James’ Park is unique. As soon as you give everything, people are happy.
“To me, the Geordies are the friendliest people in the world. And I’m not just saying that because I live here. My family and friends who come to visit me notice it too.
“I’ve always felt extremely comfortable in Newcastle, I care about the city and the club. Although the special Geordie dialect is still hard to get off the tongue even after four and a half years, I definitely feel like a Geordie. Newcastle has become my second home.”
