He will long be remembered for his fabulous hat-trick against Barcelona at St James' Park.
Tino Asprilla (talking to the Chronicle): "I am delighted to be back in Newcastle. I actually regard it as my second home.
Hat-Trick Hero Backs The Toon!
"I was only in Newcastle for a couple of years but I loved playing in front of their passionate fans. They are the best supporters.
"I know they will have many memories of me, but it's the same for me because I remember just how good it was to play in front of such a noisy crowd.
"To see them so close to the danger area was a shock. But I think, with the supporters behind the team, they can stay up.
"And with so many quality players in the squad I think they will be safe. That's what I am hoping for.
"It has been great to be back and see so many friends, and I wish them well."
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1997/98
Aug 13 CROATIA ZAGREB - Croatia (H) 2-1 (Beresford 2)
Given, Beresford, Batty, Lee, Asprilla, Pearce, Ketsbaia, Tomasson (Gillespie), Watson, Pistone, Albert (Howey). Att: 34,465
Aug 27 CROATIA ZAGREB - Croatia (A) 2-2 (Asprilla, Ketsbaia)
Given, Barton, Beresford (Gillespie), Batty, Lee, Asprilla, Pearce (Howey), Tomasson (Ketsbaia), Watson, Pistone, Albert. Att: 34,000
Sep 17 BARCELONA - Spain (H) 3-2 (Asprilla 3)
Given, Barton, Beresford, Batty, Lee, Barnes (Ketsbaia), Asprilla, Tomasson (Peacock), Gillespie, Watson, Albert. Att: 35,274
Oct 1 DYNAMO KIEV - Ukraine (A) 2-2 (Beresford 2)
Given, Barton, Beresford, Batty, Peacock, Lee (Ketsbaia), Barnes, Asprilla (Tomasson), Gillespie, Watson, Albert. Att: 100,000
Oct 22 PSV EINDHOVEN - Holland (A) 0-1
Given, Barton (Albert), Beresford (Ketsbaia), Batty, Peacock, Howey, Lee, Rush, Tomasson, Gillespie, Watson. Att: 29,200
Nov 5 PSV EINDHOVEN - Holland (H) 0-2
Given, Barton, Beresford, Barnes, Ketsbaia, Tomasson, Gillespie, Watson, Hamilton, Pistone, Albert. Att: 35,214
Nov 26 BARCELONA - Spain (A) 0-1
Hislop, Beresford, Batty, Peacock (Pearce), Barnes, Ketsbaia, Tomasson, Watson, Hamilton, Albert (Hughes). Att: 26,000
Dec 10 DYNAMO KIEV - Ukraine (H) 2-0 (Barnes, Pearce)
Hislop, Batty, Peacock, Lee, Barnes, Asprilla (Ketsbaia), Pearce, Gillespie, Watson, Pistone (Hughes), Albert. Att: 33,694
NEWCASTLE UTD 3 BARCELONA 2
NEWCASTLE: Given, Barton, Beresford, Batty, Lee, Barnes (Ketsbaia 80), Asprilla, Tomasson (Peacock 76), Gillespie, Watson, Albert. Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Howey, Rush, Pinas, Hughes.
BARCELONA: Hesp, Figo, Anderson (Dugarry 55), Rivaldo, Barjuan, Amuniki (Ciric 46), Celades, Nadal, Luis Enrique, Reiziger, De La Pena.
Subs Not Used: Busquets, Abelardo, Amor, Pizzi, Garcia.
Att: 35,274
Faustino Asprilla scored a brilliant hat-trick, his first in England, as Newcastle's first taste of European Champions' League football became a fairytale for soon-to-depart chairman Sir John Hall to tell his grandchildren.
But while the Colombian was the hero, the whole side were all truly magnificent - none more so than winger Keith Gillespie.
This was the Northern Ireland international's finest hour as he gave classy defender Sergi a night he will want to quickly forget.
The victory was thoroughly deserved, although Newcastle had to endure a nervy final half-hour during which Luis Enrique chested the ball home from close range and Luis Figo fired a second consolation goal for Barcelona.
Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish had kept secret an injury to Alessandro Pistone with the Italy Under-21 defender only having played against Wimbledon on Saturday after passing a pre-match fitness test on his ankle.
But he had clearly suffered a recurrence of the problem and it meant Dalglish had to field a flat back four with Philippe Albert and Steve Watson both marking the visitors' only out-and-out striker, Sonny Anderson.Enrique, who played just behind former Monaco striker Anderson, was picked up by returning David Batty.
The England midfielder played in the holding role to bolster a midfield which had looked anything but convincing on Saturday. Batty missed the defeat by the Dons through suspension.
Dalglish decided against bringing back central defender Darren Peacock with France international striker Christophe Dugarry left on the visitors' bench.
Within 32 seconds, Asprilla, on the bench last Saturday after his late arrival back from World Cup duty, broke down the left only to be fouled by Holland international Michael Reiziger and the free kick was wasted.
Denmark international Jon Dahl Tomasson wasted two great opportunities within a six-minute spell. His first chance, in the sixth minute, saw him break clear onto a John Barnes pass only to drive a weak effort into the side-netting when he should at least have tested goalkeeper Ruud Hesp.
Tomasson's second opportunity, after a powerful break down the right by Gillespie, saw him take a ponderous first touch which allowed the Barcelona defence to get back between him and the goal.Batty was booked in the sixth minute for a late challenge wide on the United left.
The home fans became more and more boisterous as they started to realise the visitors were not playing like worldbeaters.
And in the 21st minute they were in heaven when Asprilla earned a penalty after being up-ended by the visitors' stand-in keeper Hesp.
Tomasson played a superb inch-perfect ball to Asprilla, breaking from left to right in the penalty box. The keeper came out and although he appeared to make little contact, the Colombian went sprawling and all eyes turned to Italian referee Pierluigi Collina, who seemed to take an age to signal the penalty.
After a delay, Asprilla beat the keeper to his right, Hesp - bought by new Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal - getting a hand to the ball but failing to stop it going inside his right-hand post.
Ivan De La Pena was booked for a foul on Robert Lee in the 29th minute before the home support exploded in delight in the 31st minute as Asprilla headed home a magnificent second goal.
Steve Watson played a quick free kick to overlapping Gillespie and after the flying Ulsterman beat his marker Sergi, he produced a great cross which Asprilla joyously headed home unmarked from eight yards.The South American clearly has a liking for continental matches as this was his eighth goal in two seasons of European competition for the Geordies.
The home side were now in rampant mood with Gillespie outstanding, and produced football to match anything during the Kevin Keegan era. And as they pressed the visitors back, so the Spaniards became more and more rattled.
Newcastle were given a standing ovation after possibly their greatest ever half in European football, with one of those joining in the ovation being West Indies cricketer Richie Richardson.
Van Gaal replaced Amunike with Dragan Ciric at half-time as the visitors strengthened their right flank. Within seconds, Rivaldo tested Shay Given for the first time in the match with a low drive.
But within three minutes, Asprilla completed his memorable hat-trick with the sweetest of headers - and Gillespie was again the architect.
The Northern Ireland winger set off on a 70-yard run which left Sergi floundering. But even more impressive was his devastating right-foot cross, and Asprilla leaped like a salmon to head home a delicious effort into the top corner before his customary celebratory somersault.
Enrique chested home a close-range consolation goal in the 72nd minute after substitute Dugarry had forced a world-class save from Given.
Rivaldo then smashed a 20-yard effort against the United woodwork and Batty headed off the goal-line as the visitors took control.
And when Figo fired home from 20 yards through a number of tired United bodies, the final two minutes became agonising.
But it was all to no avail for Barcelona as one of Tyneside's greatest ever nights got into full swing when the referee sounded the final whistle.
1996/98 F.H.H.Asprilla 50/12 18
Tino will long be remembered for his hat-trick against Barcelona in the Champions League, but unjustly blamed for costing United the Premier title in 1996 after the team was 12 points clear of Man U at one stage. Signed from Parma. Born in Tula Valle in Colombia. Colombian international. Returned to Parma when he left Newcastle and there was a period when he almost joined Darlington, but spoilt his chances when he asked Darlo chairman George Reynoulds if he "had a big cock?" Yes, he was a character.