Editing Nicky Butt (section)

===Newcastle United===
Butt handed in a transfer request in January 2004,<ref>{{cite news |date=13 January 2004 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_2288110,00.html |title=No Butts as Nicky wants United exit |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref> but turned down a proposed move to [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] during the January transfer window.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 January 2004 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_2289658,00.html |title=Butt to stay put after Blues snub |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref> He was signed by [[Bobby Robson]] for [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] in July 2004 for a fee of £2.5&nbsp;million on a four-year deal, where he was seen as a replacement for the veteran [[Gary Speed]], who had moved to [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite news |date=29 July 2004 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_2306407,00.html |title=Butt seals Magpies move |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref>

Butt had a disappointing and injury-marred [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]] season, prompting the then Newcastle manager [[Graeme Souness]] to sign [[Senegal]]ese midfielder [[Amdy Faye]] in January 2005. Despite a promising start, the fans turned on Butt after the 4–1 defeat against Manchester United in the [[FA Cup]] semi-final.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} The acquisition of [[Scott Parker (footballer)|Scott Parker]] and [[Emre Belözoğlu|Emre]] in the summer of 2005 pushed Butt further down the pecking order, and his move to Birmingham City (managed by former Manchester United teammate [[Steve Bruce]]) on a season-long loan was announced on 3 August 2005.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 August 2005 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2343901,00.html |title=Blues sign Butt |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref>

However, on 13 February 2006, Butt walked out on his manager and former Manchester United teammate [[Steve Bruce]], after finding out Bruce placed his son [[Alex Bruce (footballer born 1984)|Alex Bruce]] in the squad ahead of him, and was later fined two weeks wages.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/15/newsstory.sport5|title=Upset Bruce takes hard line despite Butt apology|last=James|first=Stuart|date=15 February 2006|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 October 2020}}</ref> After Birmingham were relegated from the Premier League, Butt returned to Newcastle who were being managed by [[Glenn Roeder]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/nov/04/newsstory.sport4|title=Butt relishing second chance to make impression at St James'|last=Walker|first=Michael|date=4 November 2006|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref>

Although not an instant fan favourite at [[St. James' Park]], Butt won over some fans with two goals scored through headers in a pre-season friendly against [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]].<ref>{{cite news |date=5 August 2006 |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-3-villareal-3-1544265 |title=Newcastle United 3, Villarreal 3 |publisher=chroniclelive.co.uk|access-date=16 February 2016 }}</ref> There was some speculation that newly appointed [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] manager [[Roy Keane]] would try to sign his former Manchester United midfield partner. However, due to the lack of back-up midfielders at Newcastle and his good pre-season form, Butt remained at Newcastle.

[[File:Butt and Martins.jpg|thumb|Butt with Newcastle teammate [[Obafemi Martins]] in 2007]]
During the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07 season]], Butt was much more involved in the first team at Newcastle, playing in the holding role which allowed the likes of Parker and Emre to go forward. On 14 January 2007, Butt scored his first Newcastle goal in over 2 years when he scored the winner against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in a 3–2 victory at [[White Hart Lane]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6236771.stm |title=Tottenham 2–3 Newcastle |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=14 January 2007 |access-date=8 September 2009 |first=Jonathan |last=Stevenson}}</ref> Butt's return to form was encapsulated when he captained Newcastle in a [[UEFA Cup]] match against [[S.V. Zulte Waregem|Zulte Waregem]] on 15 February when Parker was injured.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 February 2007 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2405754,00.html |title=Butt happy to lead |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref> His good form that season continued, as on 9 April, Butt won the man of the match award for his performance against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. He continued to captain Newcastle whenever Parker was injured, and by the end of the season it was widely considered that he had won over the Newcastle fans.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 April 2007 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_2411878,00.html |title=Butt eyes Toon stay |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref>

With Parker having moved to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], Butt continued to play a big part in Newcastle's 2007–08 campaign. On 21 December, he penned a new contract keeping him at the club until the end of next season.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 December 2007 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2996137,00.html |title=Butt commits to Magpies |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref> After being an almost ever-present in that season, he expressed a desire to finish his career with Newcastle.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 October 2008 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4356853,00.html |title=Butt keen on Magpies stay |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref> Butt also started the season as captain, filling in for the injured [[Michael Owen]], and proved to be a popular choice. Butt played his 100th league game for Newcastle on 21 December 2008, marking it with a 2–1 home win against Tottenham. Newcastle were eventually relegated that season, meaning that Butt's record of playing in every [[Premier League]] season has been relinquished.

Butt was made permanent club captain for the [[2009–10 Newcastle United F.C. season|2009–10 season]], his first outside the top flight, following [[Michael Owen]]'s departure to Manchester United as a free agent during the summer transfer window. However, vice-captain [[Alan Smith (footballer born 1980)|Alan Smith]]'s impressive form saw him take the armband more often than Butt. Butt started fewer games, but still effectively carried out his holding role well, leading his side to gritty shutouts in most of the games he started.

The club eventually won both promotion to the [[Premier League]] and the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] title, and Butt announced his retirement in the build-up to Newcastle's last home game against [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]].<ref>{{cite news |date=23 April 2010 |url=http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100423/club-captain-butt-set-for-stjames-farewell_2240137_2032318 |title=Club Captain Butt Set For St.James' Farewell |publisher=nufc.co.uk |access-date=23 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426001404/http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100423/club-captain-butt-set-for-stjames-farewell_2240137_2032318 |archive-date=26 April 2010 }}</ref> He entered his penultimate game as a substitute and won a penalty en route to a 2–2 draw. Butt lifted the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] trophy alongside vice-captain [[Alan Smith (footballer born 1980)|Alan Smith]].

After leaving Newcastle he was backed by former Newcastle boss [[Chris Hughton]] to move into coaching, although a coaching position with Newcastle is not something Hughton had spoken with Butt about.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 April 2010 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_6110385,00.html |title=Butt backed to become coach |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=24 April 2010 }}</ref>