... promotion to the Premier League and (in some eyes something even MORE important) thrashing the Mackems 5-1.
The only thing he lost was his job within a few weeks of that famous result.
For a lot of Newcastle fans he was a man you could BELIEVE in ... unlike Alan Pardew who STILL hasn't won over the majority of the supporters.
I still cringe every time I see Pardew hold a press conference. There is nothing I trust in that man. I'm always looking behind his comments, because I don't believe a word he says.
He talks down to his public, something Hughton never did.
It is therefore ironic that on Tuesday night a win for Newcastle over Norwich could well see the former Toon boss sacked again.
Beating Hull City last time out is believed to have saved Hughton, or at least bought him some time.
Norwich captain Russell Martin said: “We turned up at Fulham the other week and there was a (“Hughton Out”) banner as we were getting off the coach. There’s no need for that.
“It’s always going to be like that with the criticism. We’ve gone 12th in the table and there are a lot of teams below us in the same situation with a lot of managers under pressure, and a few have already gone this year.”
After a break and trip to Abu Dhabi, it is back to the cold for the Newcastle players and two huge games within the space of four days with Norwich and then the derby to come after that.
As far as the players are concerned, Sunderland can wait and that is the right attitude.
Never mind about "forget Norwich and think about the derby", because a silly defeat would unnecessarily put more pressure on the players come Saturday. The last thing they need.