Shola Ameobi: ‘I thought: how can I be most useful to Newcastle? Then the cog started turning’

Shola Ameobi has moved from a childhood marked by racist harassment in Newcastle to a senior executive role at Newcastle United. The former striker says those experiences built resilience, and his journey matters as the club seeks to deepen its role in the city and widen pathways into football leadership.

Ameobi scored 79 goals in 397 appearances for Newcastle, including seven against Sunderland, and has worked at the club since retiring as a player. After seven years coordinating loans, he became head of corporate affairs in July, following discussions with chief executive David Hopkinson. His executive development work included the Premier League’s player-to-executive pathway scheme, launched as a pilot in 2022.