The Crues will welcome Derry City to Seaview (3pm kick-off) in a repeat of the 2012 Setanta Sports Cup final at The Oval which Baxter’s side won after a dramatic penalty shootout, becoming only the second Irish League side to win the competition.
He will lead the North Belfast club into this summer’s European action – they’ve been drawn against Welsh side Caernarfon Town in the UEFA Conference League qualifying first round with the winner set to face Poland’s Legia Warsaw – before fully handing the reins over to Declan Caddell.
Ahead of today’s testimonial, we look back at Baxter’s incredible Seaview success with photos from special moments over the years.
Ahead of today’s testimonial, we look back at Baxter’s incredible Seaview success with photos from special moments over the years.
![Perhaps the finest achievement of his Crusaders reign, Stephen Baxter holds the Setanta Sports Cup after their final victory over Derry City alongside the League Cup crown won earlier in the 2011/12 season.](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFmMTA4MDliLTljZWEtNDYwMy1iMmI1LWIxNzUyYzY0MDc1Mjo5ZjQxNmRiOS1hMzdkLTQwMzYtOWJiNS0yNTc4ZGYwYjg3YTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Best of the lot?
Perhaps the finest achievement of his Crusaders reign, Stephen Baxter holds the Setanta Sports Cup after their final victory over Derry City alongside the League Cup crown won earlier in the 2011/12 season.Photo: Stephen Hamilton/Presseye.com
![Stephen Baxter celebrates winning his first Premiership title as Crusaders boss - the club's first top-flight title in 18 years.](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY2NzdlN2YzLWE0NmUtNDVhZS1iYzk4LTY5Y2NjMjliZWY0NTphYjA1ZjhjMS02ZDcyLTRlZWUtYWVkNi04NThjZmMxNDc3OTY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Special moment
Stephen Baxter celebrates winning his first Premiership title as Crusaders boss - the club's first top-flight title in 18 years.Photo: Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press
![Stephen Baxter celebrates with his family after Crusaders successfully retained their Premiership title in 2016.](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjIxNmIwZjQ2LTgxYWItNDI3Zi1iYjkzLTY5ZDNiNTk1Y2QwYzoxMGQ4OGE2OS0zMzliLTQ5YWMtYTE5Yy05N2Q1MWY0ODNkZjA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Back-to-back Premiership titles
Stephen Baxter celebrates with his family after Crusaders successfully retained their Premiership title in 2016.Photo: Mark Marlow/Pacemaker
![The race for Premiership glory went down to the final day in 2017/18 with Crusaders eventually finishing two points clear of Coleraine after beating Ballymena United. Here's a brilliant photo of Baxter celebrating with the fans that afternoon.](https://www.newsletter.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjRhYTIwMzFmLWQ3MmMtNDE0Ny04ZGE4LWQyYTQxZTdlNThkNzpmODY1MDNmMC1mMDY1LTQ5M2MtYmQxNC02NGZlYWIwNjBiYWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Baxter delight after regaining Premiership title
The race for Premiership glory went down to the final day in 2017/18 with Crusaders eventually finishing two points clear of Coleraine after beating Ballymena United. Here's a brilliant photo of Baxter celebrating with the fans that afternoon.Photo: Charles McQuillan/Pacemaker Press