Keegan makes Newcastle return
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Article summary
Ex-England boss Kevin Keegan has been reappointed manager of Newcastle United FC eleven years after ending his successful spell in charge at St James' Park.
Article body
Kevin Keegan has been reappointed manager of Newcastle United FC eleven years after ending his successful spell in charge of the north-east side.
Out of retirement
The 56-year-old returns to top-class football after a three-year exile to take the reins of a Newcastle side struggling in the bottom half of the Premier League and rudderless following the departure last week of boss Sam Allardyce.
Back again
Keegan, who quit his last managerial post at Manchester City FC in March 2005, has been running an interactive football business in Scotland. However, one week after Allardyce left the St James' Park hot seat "by mutual consent", the former England captain has come back to Newcastle for the second time in his footballing career.
Saviour
The ex-Liverpool FC and Hamburger SV forward had seen out his playing days helping Newcastle to promotion to the top flight in 1984, before repeating the feat in his first full season as a manager in 1992/93 – having kept Newcastle in the second division the previous campaign. Newcastle then narrowly missed out on a first league title in nearly 70 years in 1995/96, yet Keegan resigned the following January.
England stint
He later took the helm at Fulham FC and also led England to UEFA EURO 2000™. Between 2001 and 2005 he managed Manchester City, again winning promotion, but had been out of football since. Newcastle, who last summer were bought by businessman Mike Ashley, lie eleventh in the Premier League and welcome Stoke City FC for an FA Cup third-round replay tonight, still seeking a first major trophy since the 1968/69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.