Kevin Keegan and Eddie Howe appeared on stage together in Newcastle. Photo: @NUFC/twitter.com
Kevin Keegan was among “his” people”, talking about “his father’s club” and one that is “not quite like any other in the world”.
< p>King Kevin is back in familiar territory, telling all his old favorite stories about his time. as a player and manager of Newcastle United. Only this time it was different from previous visits where one could bask in the glory of yesteryear. It was also about the present and the future.
On Monday, when he was joined by current manager Eddie Howe for the second half of a chat at Newcastle's Tyne Theatre, it felt like a symbolic passing of the torch. from one beloved manager to another. And, if anything, Keegan seemed relieved that he was able to do it.
For a man who achieved such success both as a player (he won the Ballon d'Or twice during his trophy-laden career at Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle) and as a coach who went on to take charge of the national team, Keegan stands out. due to his absence these days.
Indeed, he gets a lot of laughs when he tells a recent story about how he was introduced to a woman at an event and she replied: “Kevin Keegan, I I thought he was dead…” And another story about how he was stopped “and recognized” when he was walking near his house. in Hale, Greater Manchester, only to be mistaken for a local builder and congratulated on the quality of his roof repair work.
Newcastle United Royal Family – past and present! 🫶
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— Newcastle United (@NUFC) October 23, 2023 Keegan is still revered on Tyneside. Photo: Getty Images/Lawrence Griffiths
Helped persuade Alan Shearer to join for a world record £15 million fee in 1996 “because Manchester United 'weren't going to win any more trophies' and were in decline.”
“Alan would have regretted it” about this because for the rest of his life if he hadn't worn that number 9 shirt for Newcastle and what a player he would have been. I mean, he probably missed out on about nine league titles and two European Cups, but…”
It was the football equivalent of a greatest hits concert, but it provided entertainment for a crowd that would never tire of hearing the old classics. The way Keegan left in the winter of 1997, when given an ultimatum to sign a ten-year contract or leave, was typical of one of the most unpredictable and principled men in football.
Keegan, who has also managed Manchester City, Fulham and England, returned for a second stint as Newcastle manager in 2008 and drew the ire of fans at then owner Mike Ashley when he left after just eight months, citing intervention by the board of directors. He set Newcastle's direction – a miserable and bleak time – but fans famously vowed to “eventually get their club back” from Ashley. It took another 13 years for it to happen, “but I was right.”
“We really wanted to find someone who understood the club.”
There's a lovely moment when Keegan's longtime assistant and friend Terry McDermott, who is battling dementia, appears briefly on stage during a performance of Blaydon's Races. But when Howe joins him in the second half of the show, Keegan comes alive.
He is full of praise. “The great thing about Eddie, and we've talked about this a lot in conversations during the not-so-good times, is that you have to buy this football club, it's different to any football club I've been to. , and I've been to some of them as a player and coach.
“We really wanted to get someone back into the club who understands that and can take it forward, and you I [pointing to Howe] now have that I understand.”
There was thunderous applause. “I didn’t give him any advice when he got the job, I just said be honest with the fans, tell them everything you can, that’s what I did.
“Your club is special. so who knows how it will end. The limitations go far beyond what we had, that's what you hope for, that's what we hope for. I have to say, you're doing a fantastic job.”
Keegan even holds back tears at one point. “I'm so glad we got my dad's club back. Right now I'm just sitting here as a fan and enjoying it, just like all of you here.”
Howe doesn't usually appear in public like this. He's a completely different character than Keegan; more cautious, more reserved, but said he had to hold the event “to pay tribute to King Kev.”
“When I took the job, I knew it was a life-changing moment,” adds Howe. “I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I had to take it. That's why I called Kevin, I wanted to get his unique perspective on what this role would be, what I need to do right now to generate positivity, because that's very important. I want to win a trophy for these fans, that's all.”
Eddie Howe became extremely popular among Newcastle fans after the club's return to the Champions League Photo: Getty Images/Alex Dodd
Keegan is now in form. He's joking, he's out of sorts. The energy has increased and Hou is happy to let him move with it.
“I promise you, Eddie, I mean it,” he added. “You can go around the whole world, there are not many places like this, not just a football club, but a whole city.
“People talk about statues and all that, but I have my statue, I come back here every time because of the way people treat me, how kind they are to me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
“I would say be patient, but who knows, we might be sitting here and win the European Championship. It's possible. You can still win the league.
“We failed, but we were surprised by the lack of experience in this position. Lack of knowledge of how to win a league title.
“We went from almost being relegated to the third division to being at the top of the Premier League, it all happened so quickly. We almost made it, but we have to dream. These fans are the best at it, and most importantly, and I know this, they are now happy with their football club. They are happy with you. This is what you gave them. I truly believe this club has a manager who will win a trophy.”
Howe is always uncomfortable accepting praise but, as he has often done in the past, Keegan captured the mood perfectly. He spoke on behalf of all fans, although he still does not want to return to St James' Park on match day because he “doesn't want to be distracted”.
The most striking impression at the end of the evening was that Keegan was genuinely happy that that someone else was enjoying the same adulation and love that he once did.
King Kev was back and King Eddie was by his side.
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