Newcastle United: The all-time top five managers in club history

Kevin Keegan (1992-1997, 2008)

For fans of a certain age, the 1990s were a non-stop combination of highs and lows. The man at the heart of that rollercoaster ride was Kevin Keegan, and his legendary status with the club is without question.

Keegan’s first full season leading the Magpies brought a second-division title in 1992-93 (then known as the First Division with the creation of the Premier League), and it was in only a few years that Newcastle were battling for a top-flight crown.

The attack was free-flowing and spectacular, while his players adopted his hard-nosed attitude as well. Runners-up in 1995-96, Newcastle just missed lifting the title after a late push from Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.

There would be a measure of revenge for Keegan and his side later that year.

An amazing 5-0 thrashing of the Red Devils was fantastic moment for the club and for the fans, and that campaign would again see a second-place finish in the table.

Keegan left during that season, but a decade later would see him return to Tyneside once more in 2008. Replacing Sam Allardyce brought excitement to fans, but ended with bitterness and legal action.

Issues with Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise over player transfers and future plans reached extreme levels, ultimately causing Keegan to step down as Newcastle manager for a second time.

Things have never quite been the same between United and Keegan, but he certainly left his mark as both a player and as a manager.

“The Entertainers” were an incredible collection of talent at Newcastle United. The driving force behind that period was Kevin Keegan.