Special K
Keegan enjoyed collective and individual success during his illustrious playing career, spanning 16 years as a professional.
Considered as one of the best players of his generation, he won nine trophies during a six-year spell with Liverpool, including three First Division titles and the 1976 European Cup, before lifting the Bundesliga trophy in 1978/79 with Hamburger SV.
A recipient of the Ballon d'Or in 1978 and 1979, the only British player to win the award twice, the former England captain completed a shock move to Newcastle from Southampton, competing in the Second Division at the time under Arthur Cox's management.
On 28 August 1982, Keegan marked his Magpies debut in heroic fashion, netting the only goal in a 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers at St. James' Park, celebrating amongst a sea of euphoric Newcastle supporters.
He scored 49 times in 85 competitive appearances, winning the club's Player of the Year award in both of his two seasons on Tyneside.
"Kevin Keegan left Newcastle in a helicopter, he came back with Terry Mac and saved us from disaster!"
After gaining promotion to the First Division with the Magpies in 1983/84, following a third-place finish, Keegan brought down the curtain on an exceptional playing career.
Just days after carrying out his final competitive game for United against Brighton & Hove Albion, Keegan played a friendly against Liverpool at St. James' Park - famously leaving the pitch in a helicopter while in full kit.
Eight years later, Keegan made a sensational return to Newcastle United as manager during the second half of the season.
In his first ever coaching role, working alongside his former Magpies, Liverpool and England teammate Terry McDermott, Keegan was tasked with guiding the club away from relegation to the English third tier for the first time in the club's history.
Despite being situated at the foot of the table at several stages of the 1991/92 campaign, Keegan helped to steady the ship as Newcastle survived the drop, with David Kelly's late goal against Portsmouth in a tense 1-0 win at St. James' Park effectively saving the club from a bleak future.
Premier League bound
Keegan's first full season in charge saw Newcastle gain promotion to the newly-formed Premier League after winning the 1992/93 First Division title, recording 96 points.
The Magpies won their opening 11 league fixtures with a squad including the likes of Rob Lee, Brian 'Killer' Kincline and Gavin Peacock whilst being spearheaded by Kelly in attack, who scored 24 goals.
Newcastle broke their club transfer record in the winter transfer window, signing Andy Cole from Bristol City, and the promising striker repaid his transfer fee after scoring 12 times in as many appearances.
The trophy was Keegan's first of his managerial career as Newcastle netted an eye-catching 92 goals during the 46-game campaign, their highest return since 1951/52.
The Entertainers era
Newcastle continued their rise towards the summit of English football after recording a terrific third-place finish in the 1993/94 season, ending a 16-year wait for European football in the process.
It proved a breakthrough campaign for Cole, with the young striker winning the Premier League Golden Boot award after scoring 34 goals in 40 games as well as receiving the PFA Young Player of the Season prize while Peter Beardsley was just as lethal in front of goal as his striking partner, scoring 24 goals across all competitions.
Keegan's smart recruitment, encouragement of an emerging generation of local talents and uncompromising commitment to offensive football saw United became one of the leading forces in the English top flight, with a fearless attacking style seeing the team dubbed the 'Entertainers' during the 1990s.
Title challengers
In the 1995/96 season, Newcastle went agonisingly close to winning a first English top flight crown since 1927 after finishing runners-up, four points behind Manchester United.
Keegan splashed the cash to lure the likes of Les Ferdinand, David Ginola and Warren Barton to St. James' Park as Newcastle stormed to the top of the Premiership, leading the way for virtually all of the season from August until mid-March.
Despite building a 12-point advantage over the Red Devils, Newcastle lost five of their next eight matches whilst a 1–0 win for Alex Ferguson's team at St James' Park ended Newcastle's 100% home record in the league, cutting their advantage to a single point.
The Magpies' dramatic 4-3 loss at Liverpool - where Keegan was also a player - in April 1996 is widely regarded as the Premier League's greatest ever game before a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers, courtesy of Graham Fenton's late brace, proved a further blow in their hunt for a first piece of domestic silverware since 1955.
Keegan's side accrued 78 points, which remains the club's highest ever tally in the Premier League.
Howay 5-0
Newcastle United's 5-0 win against Manchester United in October 1996 still ranks, to this day, as one of the greatest victories in the club's history.
After a chastening 4-0 defeat in the Charity Shield at the old Wembley Stadium two months prior, Newcastle exacted revenge on the Red Devils in style.
Goals from Darren Peacock, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer - the latter joining his boyhood club for a world record £15m the previous summer - fired the Magpies into an unassailable lead at a rain-sodden St. James' Park.
Philippe Albert etched his name in Geordie folklore after adding gloss to the scoreline in almost arrogant fashion, producing a glorious lob over goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
The Return of the King
After resigning as Newcastle manager in January 1997, Keegan made an unexpected return to Tyneside for a second managerial stint 11 years later.
Despite a tricky start, failing to win his opening seven league matches, Newcastle completed a seven-game unbeaten streak, which included a 2-0 home win against local rivals Sunderland, as the Magpies moved clear of the relegation zone to claim a 12th place finish.
Keegan won a total of 145 matches in 273 competitive outings as Newcastle manager and currently holds the club's highest points and win percentage in the Premier League.
Rest in peace, King Kev - you'll never be forgotten.
