“His biggest football regret happened at Wolves in 2019, as he now becomes a Carabao Cup winner
Former Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy has tonight become a Carabao Cup winner after Newcastle United triumphed 2-1 over Liverpool in the final at Wembley Stadium.
The Magpies delivered a superb performance in the capital, ending their 56-year wait for a major trophy.
Newcastle took a 1-0 lead through a Dan Burn header just before halftime, and Alexander Isak doubled their advantage.
Liverpool did pull one back late with a goal from Federico Chiesa, setting up a tense finish, but Newcastle held firm to claim a well-deserved victory.
As a result, Ruddy now boasts a major trophy to his name, having joined Newcastle earlier this season on a one-year contract.
Tonight’s win must be especially sweet for Ruddy, who endured the heartbreak of missing out on an FA Cup final with Wolves in 2019.
That season, under Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves were on the brink of reaching their first FA Cup final since 1960, leading Watford 2-0 with just 11 minutes remaining.
However, Watford staged a dramatic comeback, with Gerard Deulofeu’s angled strike and Troy Deeney’s last-minute penalty forcing extra time.
Deulofeu then scored again in the 104th minute, dashing Wolves’ hopes.
Reflecting on that painful defeat, Ruddy shared, “It’s the one game I will carry for the rest of my life as the biggest regret of my career.
We were literally 10 seconds from winning, and then we concede the penalty. By that point, you’re so deflated. It’s hard to lift yourself after that.”
He added, “That’s a massive regret, and I think everyone in that team would agree. That game got away from us, and it never should have.”
Had Wolves advanced, they would have faced Manchester City in the final, and given Ruddy’s key role in their FA Cup run, he likely would have started.
The pain of that near-miss has stuck with him, as he confessed in a 2022 interview: “100% we should have made the final. It’s the one game in my career I’ve never watched footage of.”
Though Ruddy hasn’t played a competitive game for Newcastle since joining, his experience and leadership were key factors in the club’s decision to bring him in.
Manager Eddie Howe stated, “He has a wealth of experience and brings much-needed support and competition.
He also has a strong mentality and leadership qualities that will benefit the group.”
While Ruddy may never get a chance to play for Newcastle, his influence in the dressing room will be invaluable, just as it was during his time at Wolves.
His contributions were highly regarded by many at Molineux, and it’s fantastic that at 38, Ruddy now has a major trophy to his name, which will surely help ease the sting of that 2019 FA Cup heartbreak.
