Keegan is back

Kevin Keegan has returned to Newcastle United last week, for a second spell as manager. The former Liverpool, Hamburg & England player (also known as King Kev) replaces Sam Allardyce, who was sacked by Newcastle after some disappointing results & performances. Keegan returns for the first time in 11 years - he left Newcastle in January 1997 (& has since coached other teams until 2005), & the reasons for that departure has never really been made clear.

But look at the reaction that King Kev's return has generated on Tyneside. It was an unexpected but welcome return. The Newcastle supporters absolutely adore him. He's so highly regarded in that part of England. And with good reason, too. Under Keegan's management, Newcastle threatened to win the English Premier League title in 1995/1996, leading the table by 12 points at one stage. But unfortunately, they were pipped to the post by Manchester United. Keegan built a side which played vibrant, cavalier attacking football which delighted & entertained the Newcastle fans as well as neutrals everywhere in the UK. Unfortunately, they didn't win the title in that season, instead finishing second. The following season (midway during which Keegan left), Newcastle again finished second. They never finished as high again since.

The Newcastle fans obviously hope that the good times will be back. But judging by Newcastle's first game since Keegan's return, a 0-0 draw at home to Bolton, Keegan really has his work cut out to turn around the fortunes of a capable but underperforming squad. He's got a lot of work to do. Newcastle do have some good, talented players (such as Owen, Milner, N'Zogbia & Emre), but Keegan needs to bring the best out of them (something Allardyce failed dismally to do) as well as look to bring in some new signings to bolster the squad.

I like Keegan, actually; I like his attack-minded, "you score 4, we score 5" philosophy. Whatever his detractors may say about his tactical naivety/shortcomings, at least he tries to get his team to play adventurous football. Keegan is not arrogant, he never brags, & never has a go at match officials or blame them for his team's misfortune. He is a nice guy. I'm happy that he is back in football management. Welcome back to football, & welcome back to the English Premier League, Mr Keegan. All the best. And to mimic his famous rant back in the 1990s, "I'd love it, love it" if Keegan gets Newcastle playing the entertaining brand of football that they displayed during his previous spell in charge. And I'm not a Newcastle fan!