Shaka Hislop

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hislop's first season at Newcastle United was spent battling with incumbent goalkeeper Pavel Srníček for the starting role. After starting strongly and being the starter through until December 1995, Hislop suffered an injury against Chelsea that allowed Srníček to regain the starting role. Hislop then did not return until April 1996, making only one league start after his hamstring injury—the final match against Tottenham. That season Newcastle lost a 12-point lead in January to finish the season in second place. In 1996–97, Hislop started the first league game of the season against Everton but then remained on the bench thereafter. He had to watch Srníček tend the nets until a perceived dip in form and a number of mistakes from Srníček allowed Hislop to take the starting role back again in December 1996, and he made only his second league start of the year in a 7–1 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur. Hislop successfully retained the starting position until the final 4 games of the season when Srníček returned, as Newcastle pipped Arsenal and Liverpool to second place on goal difference at the end of the season. Hislop's role further came under threat when new manager Kenny Dalglish opted to purchase a goalkeeper from Blackburn Rovers. Dalglish brought in Shay Given, costing £1.5 million, and a season-long battle for the number one spot ensued between the two goalkeepers. Given initially started the season, but after a string of defeats and five games without a win, Dalglish went back to Hislop in November and he stayed there until an injury in February allowed Given back into the frame. With his contract running out, and having not yet managed to play a full season at Newcastle, Hislop chose to leave on a free transfer.

In Their Own Story

The 1996–97 season saw Hislop start the first league game against Everton, then watch from the bench as Srníček held the nets. But after a dip in form and mistakes from Srníček, Hislop took back the starting role in December 1996, making only his second league start of the year in a 7–1 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur. He held the position until the final four games, when Srníček returned, and Newcastle pipped Arsenal and Liverpool to second place on goal difference. The next season, new manager Kenny Dalglish brought in Shay Given for £1.5 million, sparking a season-long battle. Given started, but after a string of defeats and five games without a win, Dalglish went back to Hislop in November. Hislop stayed there until an injury in February let Given back in. With his contract running out and having never played a full season at Newcastle, Hislop left on a free transfer.

Reader's Guide

Hislop is now working for sports news and broadcasting service ESPN where he is most often seen as a commentator on ESPN FC. He had also briefly worked as a goalkeeping coach for the football team at Quinnipiac University.

Did You Know?

• Hislop graduated from Howard University with honours with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and interned at NASA.
• He was voted the best goalkeeper in Reading's greatest-ever XI with 46.7% of the vote.
• Hislop won the Hammer of the Year award in his first season at West Ham United.
• He starred in Trinidad and Tobago's first ever World Cup appearance in 2006.