Kevin Keegan is relishing the challenge of managing
Newcastle for a second time and enabling the club's long-suffering
fans to "have dreams" again. Keegan, who quit the club 11 years
ago, made a stunning return to St James' Park last night when he
was announced as Sam Allardyce's successor.
Former England boss Keegan took the Magpies from English football's
second tier to the brink of a Premier League title in his first
stint in charge. His return appears to have set Tyneside buzzing
with kick-off at Newcastle's FA Cup replay with Stoke put back 15
minutes due to crowd congestion.
Allardyce's reign and style of football proved unpopular but
Keegan, out of the game since leaving Manchester City three years
ago, says he knows what the fans want and believes he can deliver
success. "I know what they want and I know what they don't want as
well," he told talkSPORT. "As long as they are realistic and
patient I think we can try again to help them have dreams and
possibly win something."
Keegan watched as Newcastle overpowered Stoke 4-1 and his first
match in charge will be Saturday's home clash with Bolton in the
Premier League. "I am just as excited this time as I was when I
came to play here at 31 and when I came as a manager at 43 or 44,"
he said.
"I think this is right, I have certainly inherited a strong,
talented group of players - which is something I didn't have when I
came last time. "When I came last time we were wondering whether we
could fill the stadium. That is not a problem. "They will be trying
to get a stadium big enough if we can put some football on and get
some success here. "The job in hand is a big job, it is a great
club."
