Back in September 2012, the world was a different place. Andy Murray was winning his first grand slam singles title, Barack Obama was making a bid for re-election as President of the United States, and Alan Pardew was being handed an eight-year contract as Newcastle United manager.
It was a reward for Pardew- who has now been appointed as technical director for CSKA Sofia - leading the Magpies to a top-six finish the previous season, and was due to run until 30 June, 2020. It’s safe to say a lot has happened in the interim.
Sunderland have been relegated….twice
Pardew didn’t have a good record in derby matches, and it was during his tenure that the infamous six-in-a-row streak began. That said, when he signed his deal Sunderland were a fairly stable Premier League club.
Since he left, the Black Cats fell into the Championship and continued to struggle before being demoted to League One, all while being the subject of a popular Netflix documentary. Somewhat bizarrely Pardew’s name has occasionally been linked to the job at Sunderland, although it’s highly unlikely supporters would back that decision.
Manchester United have won just one Premier League title
Now this one is perhaps one of the more shocking turn of events. The Red Devils were a dynasty under Sir Alex Ferguson. The 78-year-old called time on his managerial career at the end of the 2012/2013 season after winning his 13th Premier League crown.
He ushered in David Moyes as his successor, and things just haven’t been the same since. Man United fans have watched ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City shoot ahead of them, with the occasional domestic cup and a Europa League crown all that Man United fans have to show for the post-Ferguson era.
There have been two world champions
The Spanish era of dominance was still in full effect when Pardew inked his eight-year contract. Since then we’ve had two World Cup winners - Germany and France - all while Spain have struggled to get further than the round of 16.
Their success was exhilarating to watch, while their decline has been a disappointing reminder that time waits for no one. There was also that time that football nearly came home, but the less said about that the better.
Leicester City won the Premier League
Imagine going back to 2012 and convincing someone that Championship side Leicester City would win the Premier League before the decade was over. Then throw in the fact they’d do all of that with Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante, for a combined spend of less than £10million.
The Foxes' success was a Cinderella story that captured the imagination of every football supporter around the world. The fact it was orchestrated by Claudio Ranieri, football’s lovely uncle, made it even nicer. Dilly ding, dilly dong.
Brazil will be humiliated in a World Cup 7-1
The message was simple -- avoid another Maracanazo. That might have sounded like a lot of pressure to put on Brazil’s players, especially as they played no part in the first one in 1950.
Perhaps that’s what ultimately caused the 7-1 demolition by Germany that left the world speechless. The humiliating defeat at the Estádio Mineirão was every bit as shattering for the hosts as that at the Maracanã in 1950 and saw everything from boos to ironic cheers as Germany ran up the score on route to winning the competition.
Rafa Benitez managed the team in the Championship
From Barcelona to Burton Albion, the 2016/2017 season was a surreal one for Newcastle fans.
Benitez was unable to keep Newcastle in the Premier League, but he agreed to stay on to help the team get promoted. They did just that, and after two years of trying to get Mike Ashley to show ambition Benitez opted to leave the club for a job in China.
