The 1996-97 campaign delivered a dramatic Premier League runner-up finish for Newcastle United as The Magpies secured a coveted spot in the Champions League for the first time. Leading the charge was the world-record signing Alan Shearer, whose league-leading 25 goals proved decisive in a campaign built on high ambition and a thrilling final-day surge following the mid-season managerial change from Kevin Keegan to Kenny Dalglish. It was a historic year that marked the club's inaugural Champions League qualification and remains a defining chapter in the legacy of the 'Entertainers'.