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."
