When Bruno Guimarães first donned the captain’s armband for Newcastle United at the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season, he knew he was stepping into a role steeped in responsibility and expectation. The Brazilian midfielder, already a talisman for the Magpies since his arrival from Lyon in January 2022, was no stranger to the passion of the Geordie faithful or the weight of the club’s storied history. Yet, as he stood on the Wembley turf on March 16, 2025, lifting the Carabao Cup after a 2-1 victory over Liverpool—the club’s first major domestic trophy in 70 years—Guimarães admitted there was one thing that had truly taken him by surprise.
“I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d told me how much this would mean—not just to me, but to everyone,” Guimarães said in an emotional post-match interview with Sky Sports. “The love, the energy, the way the fans have carried us… it’s something I never imagined could be this big.”
The 27-year-old’s journey to becoming Newcastle’s captain has been a remarkable one. Signed for £40 million during a relegation scrap, Guimarães quickly transformed the team’s fortunes, helping them climb to safety and, in the following season, secure a Champions League spot. His flair, tenacity, and vision made him a fan favorite, but it was his appointment as captain ahead of the 2024-25 campaign that elevated his status to that of a modern-day icon. Replacing the injured Jamaal Lascelles and stepping ahead of vice-captain Kieran Trippier, Guimarães embraced the role with a fervor that has since defined his tenure.
What has surprised him most, however, is not the pressure of leadership or the tactical demands of the role—both of which he’s handled with aplomb—but the sheer scale of the emotional connection he’s forged with the Newcastle supporters. “When I came here, I wanted to play well, to help the team, to maybe win something one day,” he reflected. “But to see how much it means to these people, how they live and breathe this club, how they’ve waited so long… I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d said it would feel like this.”
The Carabao Cup triumph was a watershed moment for Newcastle, ending a drought that stretched back to their 1955 FA Cup win. Guimarães, who played the full 90 minutes plus 12 nervy minutes of stoppage time, was at the heart of the victory. Alongside Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, he outmuscled Liverpool’s midfield, setting the stage for Dan Burn and Alexander Isak to score the decisive goals. As the final whistle blew and Federico Chiesa’s late consolation strike proved too little, too late, Guimarães sank to his knees, overwhelmed by the moment.
“It’s not just about the trophy,” he later explained. “It’s about what it represents. People have grown up never seeing Newcastle as champions. Some have passed away waiting for this. To be the one leading the team, to give them this joy—it’s bigger than I ever thought it could be.”
Guimarães’ surprise speaks to his humility, a trait that has endeared him to the Toon Army as much as his on-field brilliance. Despite his pedigree—having starred for Lyon and now shining in the Premier League—he arrived in Newcastle with no preconceptions about the club’s cultural significance. “I knew it was a big club, a passionate place,” he said. “But until you’re here, until you feel it every day, you don’t really understand. The fans don’t just support us—they live through us.”
That bond was palpable during the trophy parade through Newcastle city center, where an estimated 150,000 fans turned out to celebrate. Guimarães, ever the showman, led the charge, belting out an X-rated chant about rivals Sunderland to the delight of the crowd. “Sandro Tonali, he eats spaghetti, he loves Moretti, he hates f***ing Sunderland,” he sang, cementing his status as a man who gets it—a captain who embodies the spirit of the city.
Since taking the armband, Guimarães has grown into the role with a maturity that belies his initial reputation as a “happy-go-lucky” character. Early in the season, some questioned whether his emotional nature might hinder his leadership, but he’s silenced doubters with performances like his commanding display in a 3-0 rout of Manchester United at Old Trafford in December 2024. Teammate Jacob Murphy called it a “captain’s performance,” and Guimarães himself took to Instagram to dedicate the win to the fans: “This one’s for you, NUFC fans. Enjoy it, and let’s keep pushing for more.”
As Newcastle sit just one point behind fifth-placed Manchester City in the race for Champions League qualification, Guimarães’ leadership will be tested further. Yet, if his surprise at the depth of the club’s soul has taught him anything, it’s that he’s not alone in this journey. “I thought I’d be carrying the team,” he admitted with a grin. “But really, it’s the fans carrying me. I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d told me that three years ago.”
For a player who once dreamed of simply playing in the Premier League, Guimarães has become the heartbeat of a club on the rise. His surprise at the magnitude of his role only underscores the authenticity of his connection with Newcastle—a bond that, on April 2, 2025, shows no signs of weakening. As he put it, “This is my second home. We’re making history together—and I’m still pinching myself.”
