Starting Eleven: Top Kevin Keegan Moments
As one of the most recognisable and well respected ex-footballers on the planet, Kevin Keegan went through his shares of ups and downs as a top class International player. As a manager, Keegan’s career has followed a similar topsy-turvy pattern which has taken him from Newcastle, via Fulham and England, back to the North East.
In a bid to prove that the Premiership will be a brighter place with the former Liverpool and Hamburg player as part of it, we look at eleven of the most defining moments from Kevin Keegan.
In a bid to prove that the Premiership will be a brighter place with the former Liverpool and Hamburg player as part of it, we look at eleven of the most defining moments from Kevin Keegan.
‘Say hello and wave goodbye, before saying hello again’
Taking up his first position as a manager at Newcastle United, Keegan was hired to ensure that the club avoided the trap door of the third division. In February 1992 however Keegan walked out on the club after money promised to bolster the squad does not appear. The man himself was quoted as saying “It’s not like it said in the brochure”. Eventually he agreed to return following discussions with Sir John Hall who insisted that Keegan would be backed with funds provided he kept the club afloat.
‘Survival ensured’
More than just wanting to keep the side afloat, Keegan aimed high insisting that despite its relegation threatened status, Newcastle were destined for great things. In his first half season as manager he helped the club hang onto their second division status and a year later had the club promoted to the first division.
‘Unearthing a gem and getting into the big time’
With Newcastle continuing their progression as a team, they pushed on for promotion to the Premiership under Keegan. Signing a young Andy Cole from Bristol City, Keegan opened his chequebook to bring in Rob Lee and John Beresford who became stalwarts at Newcastle. In May 1993 the club were crowed First Division Champions.
‘Europe calls’
Not satisfied for a place amongst the countries elite, Keegan immediately set his sights high and bringing in Ruel Fox and Peter Beardsley, he soon had Newcastle in Europe after his first season in the Premiership. Although at one point it looked as if the black and whites were going to challenge for the title, a third place finish was well above expectations as Newcastle became everyone’s favourite second team.
‘The original sexy football’
Long before Ruud Gullit came into town and promised the public ‘sexy football’, Keegan’s brand of entertaining football had the country talking. He signed David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Shaka Hislop before once again helping Newcastle to a high finish in the Premiership. Keegan’s side were branded ‘the entertainers’ due to their ratio of over 1.5 goals a game. The club played such open expansive football that they became extremely popular with most neutrals and Keegan was touted as a future England manager due to his ability to provide exciting football and get results.
‘The defining sound byte of the decade’
Despite all the success Keegan was having in charge of Newcastle, it wasn’t long before the wheels began falling off in Tyneside. He was forced to sell top striker Andy Cole and was hounded by Newcastle fans for failing to buy a replacement. With three quarters of the season gone, Keegan’s side sat twelve points clear in the Premiership but their manager appeared to be cracking under pressure. The physical evidence of this came after a radio interview in which he responded to Alex Ferguson’s comments that ‘Manchester United were favourites for the title’, Keegan replied that he would ‘just love it’ if Newcastle held of the challenge of Manchester United and stopped them from winning the Premiership. Sadly for Newcastle their lead at the top of the Premiership was overhauled and Manchester United walked away with yet another Premiership title. Despite signing Alan Shearer the following summer for 15 millions pounds, Keegan soon found himself offering his resignation before sensationally quitting in January 1997.
‘Splitting himself in half’
Returning to the game nine months later, Keegan returned to Fulham as ‘chief operating officer’ before taking a more permanent role in the clubs team management. With the departure of Glen Hoddle and the club doing extremely well the FA approach Keegan about becoming England manager. He accepts the offer on a temporary basis though after he guides Fulham into the first division he announces his intention to leave and take the England job on a full time basis.
‘Beating the Auld enemy and throwing away leads’
With the national side teetering once again on the brink of not qualifying for a major tournament, Keegan overhauls the side and starts with a 3-1 win over Poland. It takes a win by Sweden over their group rivals to send England into a playoff for the European Champions against Scotland. With a 2-0 victory in the first leg enough to ensure that the Three Lions make the finals in Holland and Belgium. Despite beating Germany 1-0 during the Summer of 2000, England are ousted from the tournament after losing a 2-0 lead to Portugal and eventually going down 3-2 as well as throwing away a 2-1 lead against Romania. The Eastern Europeans comeback leaves England out at the first round stage and as attention turns to the World Cup qualifiers, Keegan promises that England will bounce back stronger than ever.
‘One rainy day at Wembley’
Sadly for the England manager he is not able to deliver on his bold promise of success as the final game at Wembley is marred by an away German victory. With the rain pouring and having seen his team booed off the field, Keegan sensationally announces after the game that he is ‘a bit short’ at International level and steps aside in dramatic fashion.
‘Triumphant return’
Believing that the England position might have been his last in football, Keegan returns to the game with struggling Manchester City but soon begins to feel the pressure or expectation at another club starved of success. Her gains promotion to the Premiership and secures promotion with a game to spare before declaring his intentions at the club by signing Nicolas Anelka. The club struggle in his first season back in the Premiership however and despite being involved in an amazing comeback from 3-0 down against Tottenham, Keegan leaves the Citizens by mutual consent stating that he ‘intends to retire’.
‘Third time’s a charm’
Despite his links with almost every major job going, Keegan announces that he still intends to return to management for one last foray. Following several weeks of speculation since Sam Allardyce’s’ departure from the Newcastle hot seat, talk is afoot that Keegan could be making a dramatic return to the Premiership with his former club. Failing to rule himself in or out of the job, Keegan insists he is open to a return if he is ‘wanted’. With Mike Ashley, the chairman, insisting the club will now be run ‘his way’, the 16th January saw sensational news break across the country that Keegan had been coaxed out of self enforced exile to retake his position as Newcastle manager, eleven years after leaving.
Taking up his first position as a manager at Newcastle United, Keegan was hired to ensure that the club avoided the trap door of the third division. In February 1992 however Keegan walked out on the club after money promised to bolster the squad does not appear. The man himself was quoted as saying “It’s not like it said in the brochure”. Eventually he agreed to return following discussions with Sir John Hall who insisted that Keegan would be backed with funds provided he kept the club afloat.
‘Survival ensured’
More than just wanting to keep the side afloat, Keegan aimed high insisting that despite its relegation threatened status, Newcastle were destined for great things. In his first half season as manager he helped the club hang onto their second division status and a year later had the club promoted to the first division.
‘Unearthing a gem and getting into the big time’
With Newcastle continuing their progression as a team, they pushed on for promotion to the Premiership under Keegan. Signing a young Andy Cole from Bristol City, Keegan opened his chequebook to bring in Rob Lee and John Beresford who became stalwarts at Newcastle. In May 1993 the club were crowed First Division Champions.
‘Europe calls’
Not satisfied for a place amongst the countries elite, Keegan immediately set his sights high and bringing in Ruel Fox and Peter Beardsley, he soon had Newcastle in Europe after his first season in the Premiership. Although at one point it looked as if the black and whites were going to challenge for the title, a third place finish was well above expectations as Newcastle became everyone’s favourite second team.
‘The original sexy football’
Long before Ruud Gullit came into town and promised the public ‘sexy football’, Keegan’s brand of entertaining football had the country talking. He signed David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Shaka Hislop before once again helping Newcastle to a high finish in the Premiership. Keegan’s side were branded ‘the entertainers’ due to their ratio of over 1.5 goals a game. The club played such open expansive football that they became extremely popular with most neutrals and Keegan was touted as a future England manager due to his ability to provide exciting football and get results.
‘The defining sound byte of the decade’
Despite all the success Keegan was having in charge of Newcastle, it wasn’t long before the wheels began falling off in Tyneside. He was forced to sell top striker Andy Cole and was hounded by Newcastle fans for failing to buy a replacement. With three quarters of the season gone, Keegan’s side sat twelve points clear in the Premiership but their manager appeared to be cracking under pressure. The physical evidence of this came after a radio interview in which he responded to Alex Ferguson’s comments that ‘Manchester United were favourites for the title’, Keegan replied that he would ‘just love it’ if Newcastle held of the challenge of Manchester United and stopped them from winning the Premiership. Sadly for Newcastle their lead at the top of the Premiership was overhauled and Manchester United walked away with yet another Premiership title. Despite signing Alan Shearer the following summer for 15 millions pounds, Keegan soon found himself offering his resignation before sensationally quitting in January 1997.
‘Splitting himself in half’
Returning to the game nine months later, Keegan returned to Fulham as ‘chief operating officer’ before taking a more permanent role in the clubs team management. With the departure of Glen Hoddle and the club doing extremely well the FA approach Keegan about becoming England manager. He accepts the offer on a temporary basis though after he guides Fulham into the first division he announces his intention to leave and take the England job on a full time basis.
‘Beating the Auld enemy and throwing away leads’
With the national side teetering once again on the brink of not qualifying for a major tournament, Keegan overhauls the side and starts with a 3-1 win over Poland. It takes a win by Sweden over their group rivals to send England into a playoff for the European Champions against Scotland. With a 2-0 victory in the first leg enough to ensure that the Three Lions make the finals in Holland and Belgium. Despite beating Germany 1-0 during the Summer of 2000, England are ousted from the tournament after losing a 2-0 lead to Portugal and eventually going down 3-2 as well as throwing away a 2-1 lead against Romania. The Eastern Europeans comeback leaves England out at the first round stage and as attention turns to the World Cup qualifiers, Keegan promises that England will bounce back stronger than ever.
‘One rainy day at Wembley’
Sadly for the England manager he is not able to deliver on his bold promise of success as the final game at Wembley is marred by an away German victory. With the rain pouring and having seen his team booed off the field, Keegan sensationally announces after the game that he is ‘a bit short’ at International level and steps aside in dramatic fashion.
‘Triumphant return’
Believing that the England position might have been his last in football, Keegan returns to the game with struggling Manchester City but soon begins to feel the pressure or expectation at another club starved of success. Her gains promotion to the Premiership and secures promotion with a game to spare before declaring his intentions at the club by signing Nicolas Anelka. The club struggle in his first season back in the Premiership however and despite being involved in an amazing comeback from 3-0 down against Tottenham, Keegan leaves the Citizens by mutual consent stating that he ‘intends to retire’.
‘Third time’s a charm’
Despite his links with almost every major job going, Keegan announces that he still intends to return to management for one last foray. Following several weeks of speculation since Sam Allardyce’s’ departure from the Newcastle hot seat, talk is afoot that Keegan could be making a dramatic return to the Premiership with his former club. Failing to rule himself in or out of the job, Keegan insists he is open to a return if he is ‘wanted’. With Mike Ashley, the chairman, insisting the club will now be run ‘his way’, the 16th January saw sensational news break across the country that Keegan had been coaxed out of self enforced exile to retake his position as Newcastle manager, eleven years after leaving.