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In February 2024 we saw the surprise announcement that Matty Longstaff had signed a two year contract with Toronto FC.
The chance of a fresh start for the midfielder.
Matty Longstaff having had terrible luck with injuries.
So how has it worked out?
It is now the end of the regular MLS league season and of the 34 Toronto FC 2024 league matches (season started in February), Matty Longstaff has featured in 32 of them, including 25 league starts, scoring two goals.
Great to see Matty Longstaff playing regular football once again and even better, the lifelong Newcastle United fan loving life once again.
Matty Longstaff has been speaking to The Athletic about his life now and of course Newcastle United, here are a few brief outtakes from this excellent interview:
“I have always wanted to go abroad and once I knew my career was done at Newcastle, I thought, ‘I want to try something different’.
“For a club like Toronto, with so much history and a Geordie manager (in John Herdman), to present me with this opportunity, everything aligned. I wanted to get away and rebuild myself, and see where I can go from here. It’s been just what I needed.”
Matty Longstaff on having been convinced to sign a two year extension by Steve Bruce:
“I went round to the manager’s house and he promised me that I was going to get minutes.
(Matty Longstaff then went 340 days without being named in a Premier League starting XI and played only 29 minutes during Newcastle’s opening 14 league matches of 2020-21.)
“It was a weird time.
“You go from such a high of the season before, then I was out of the picture.
“Some Championship teams wanted me on loan (in January 2021) and, for whatever reason, they wouldn’t let me go. Then I didn’t kick a ball for the rest of the season.”
The Newcastle United takeover – Good news, Bad news?
“As a fan, I was buzzing.
“You just have to look at were they are now and where they can go, that made me so happy.
“But I wasn’t stupid, I was thinking, ‘That’s me done at Newcastle, I need to move on’.”
Dan Ashworth (and Eddie Howe):
“Dan Ashworth said to me: ‘You’ve helped get this place to where it is.
“We’ll always remember what you’ve done and we’re going to look after you. It doesn’t matter how long it takes’.
“The manager (Eddie Howe) rang and said: ‘You’re such a positive person around the place. Keep being you, keep being positive, because it lifts the mood. Don’t feel for one minute that you don’t deserve to be here. The lads love you’.”
(Once Longstaff’s contract expired, Ashworth offered to pay Longstaff to help him get his coaching badges so that he had a wage coming in. But, after a few coaching sessions at the academy, Longstaff felt he had to concentrate on his recovery.)
“I’m an all-or-nothing type of person.
“I’m so thankful for what they did but I needed to know I was doing everything possible to get myself in the best condition.”
Matty Longstaff on Toronto’s Geordie manager and fellow Newcastle United fan, John Herdman:
“He put his trust in me, coming off such a big injury.
“We speak about Newcastle a lot, especially now the season has restarted. We get on really well.”
“I needed to go somewhere I could play a lot.
“I’ve built robustness and it’s the most I’ve played. Fingers crossed that continues.”
Matty Longstaff on Sean Longstaff:.
“I’m so proud of everything Sean has achieved.
“He gets stick from certain fans at times, which he doesn’t deserve, and he’s made a scapegoat.
“But look at the games he’s played, the goals he’s scored in big games, and how mentally strong he is.
“I’ve always looked up to him and even more so now. I don’t think people understand the pressures of being the homegrown kid.”

 
