Newcastle United: Kevin Keegan discusses The Entertainers era
By Roy Emanuel
The Newcastle United legend touched on a variety of topics with fans recently.
Newcastle United and current manager Rafa Benitez are preparing for the final weeks of the Premier League season, in a good position to avoid relegation thanks to recent positive results. Former boss Kevin Keegan brought the Magpies close to the top of English football years ago, and he remains a key figure in the club’s history.
The 67-year-old spoke with fans at a special Q&A session last week at Grosvenor Casino, and he provided some insight on one of the most spectacular periods for the Toon. As a player, his work ensured promotion to the top flight at St. James’ Park.
As a coach, Keegan guided Newcastle into Europe and into Premier League title races. His famous “love it” rant lives on as a classic piece of emotional bravado, and there was at least one part of it that he would like to change.
“I would have done it quieter. When you have headphones on you don’t realise.”
On the subject of missing out on the Premier League title during the 1995-96 campaign, Keegan spoke of what stopped the team and what the future could have produced if the Toon had lifted the trophy that season.
“The thing we didn’t have that Manchester United had was winning experience. We had it at Liverpool. Once you win the league title once… Had we won the league title that year, we would have probably gone on and won it another couple of times.”
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As for the arrival of Alan Shearer in 1996, Keegan responded quite simply when asked about how the legendary striker signed at St. James’ Park.
“The only reason Alan ever came here is because he wanted to.”
What could have been
“The Entertainers” played with a guile and passion that is not often seen, and a generation of the Toon Army will remember those days fondly.
As much as that side were adored, there is also a sense of incompletion. The Magpies were on the cusp of glory, but just could not find the last piece of success in several campaigns.
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Kevin Keegan engineered a memorable era of Newcastle United football, and he will always hold a unique place in the club’s lore.