Ferguson says Keegan built Newcastle's greatest team

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to Kevin Keegan following the announcement of Keegan’s death at the age of 75. Speaking to Track Radio, the former Manchester United manager recalled his rivalry with Keegan’s Newcastle United in the mid-1990s and said he had deep respect for the work Keegan did on Tyneside.

Ferguson said Keegan revived Newcastle after taking charge in 1992, leading the club to Premier League promotion in 1992-93 and later building a side that challenged Manchester United for the 1995-96 title. He highlighted the arrivals of David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla and Philippe Albert, saying they added quality to a team he considered Newcastle’s best. Ferguson also described Keegan as someone whose passion for football was obvious and infectious.

The BBC notes that the two managers were central figures in one of the Premier League’s most memorable title races, when Newcastle lost a 12-point lead and United finished champions in 1996. Ferguson also reflected on meeting Keegan at Wentworth Golf Club weeks later, saying there was no bitterness between them and praising Keegan’s ability to move on from the tension of the season.

Other tributes cited by BBC Sport came from Alan Shearer, Eddie Howe, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Phil Thompson and David Fairclough. The article also revisits Keegan’s broader career: league and European success with Liverpool, Bundesliga success with Hamburg, two Ballon d’Or wins, 63 England caps, and later managerial roles with Newcastle, England, Fulham and Manchester City.