Newcastle United ended its long search for a successor to Sam Allardyce on Wednesday by reinstating former manager Kevin Keegan in the role he occupied from 1992-1997. During that time, Keegan drove the club to promotion from the English First Division in 1993, progressing all the way to the runner-up slot in the 1995-96 EPL season.
The former England and Manchester City manager faces a tough task. Newcastle is currently in turmoil following a thorough 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester United on Saturday. The Magpies are 11th place in the EPL table with 26 points from 22 games, 25 adrift of league leaders Man United and Arsenal, and just six points above the drop zone.
Other managers in contention for the position included Portsmouth’s Harry Redknapp, who turned down an offer last week, Blackburn’s Mark Hughes, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, former Tottenham manager Martin Jol, former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier and former France and Chelsea player Didier Deschamps. News of Keegan’s appointment came just a few hours before Newcastle hosted Stoke City in an F.A. Cup third round replay. The Magpies have not won the English league title since 1927. They last won the FA Cup in 1955.