Newcastle United

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Kevin Keegan was "a man of the people that could get on with everybody," says former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton.

Hughton was convinced to join the Magpies as first-team coach in February 2008 because of a phone call with Keegan.

He became caretaker boss when Keegan left St James' Park in 2008 and took the job on a full-time basis the following year.

But before their paths crossed in management, Hughton faced him on the pitch.

"I played against Kevin a good few times when he was at Southampton and against him when I played for the Republic of Ireland against England," Hughton said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Kevin got the two goals in that game and we lost 2-0.

"We chatted all the way to the changing room after the game and we exchanged shirts. I still have that shirt, and out of all my memorabilia, it is my most precious one.

"I owe all of my managerial career to Kevin. Having the faith to bring me up to Newcastle in the first place and then the pleasure of working with him for that period of time.

"He was no different to everything I had been told about him. The players loved him; he could have a laugh and joke with them, but when it came to decision making, it showed the quality he had.

"A man of the people that could get on with everybody. I always felt like if you couldn't get on with Kevin then it was your fault and not his because he gave everybody the time they deserve.

"An exceptional coach and an exceptional manager."

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Former Newcastle defender Warren Barton said it "was an honour" to play under Keegan, who brought him to the club in 1995.

"He was a special person and he made everybody feel important," Barton told BBC Radio Newcastle. "We loved him.

"To have him as my manager was an honour.

"Everyone wanted to go to Newcastle because of the style of football that we played. It was exciting, but the sad part is that we failed him.

"We tried everything but we just came up short for him, although he never let us feel like we let him down as he was always very positive.

"He made me feel like I could walk on water."

Derek Wright - who served as physio under Keegan - added: "My happiest time was when Kevin was manager.

"It was an unbelievable time. He was a great manager in a football sense obviously but he was also a great leader, great with his staff. He loved the area, the region, Newcastle.

"You were carried along on this wave of optimism really. Every day was a great day with him and Terry McDermott.

"Kevin will always be there. He will never be forgotten, but a statue would be a fitting tribute I think."

You can listen to more Keegan tributes from former players, friends and journalists on BBC Sounds

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says he is "devastated" by the passing of club legend Kevin Keegan, who went on to become his friend after helping him settle in Tyneside.

In a club tribute, Howe said: "Kevin was an inspiration to me as a young player and, I'm honoured to say, a friend whose guidance and support meant a great deal in recent years.

"Long before I ever dreamed of becoming a manager, I was captivated by his 'Entertainers' team. They played with courage, freedom and excitement. They made people fall in love not only with football, but with Newcastle United.

"Those teams reflected Kevin himself – passionate, positive, fearless and full of energy. That spirit remains part of this club's identity today and will continue to push our players and staff and inspire generations to come.

"For me personally, Kevin's influence became even more meaningful when I arrived at Newcastle United as manager.

"He showed me incredible warmth and generosity. He had already given so much to this football club, yet he immediately made me feel welcome.

"Kevin understood better than most the privilege and responsibility of leading Newcastle United. He was always willing to share his wisdom, offer encouragement and provide support, and I will always be grateful for that.

"What struck me most was his humility. Despite everything he achieved in the game and his iconic status here, he never sought recognition. He simply wanted to help because he cared deeply about the club and the people within it.

"Every conversation with Kevin left you feeling better. He had remarkable warmth and humour and also a love for football that touched everyone around him. It is profoundly saddening that he is no longer with us.

"Kevin's legacy will live on through this football club, its supporters and everyone he inspired.

"Thank you, Kevin, for everything. Rest in peace."

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Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to Newcastle and England legend Kevin Keegan, who passed away on Monday at the age of 75.

The Scottish manager and Keegan shared one of the most famous rivalries in Premier League history as Manchester United and Newcastle United battled for the title in 1996.

Speaking to Track Radio, Ferguson said: "I had the utmost respect for him. We had many duels when he was manager of Newcastle, but I have to say the job he did at Newcastle was fantastic.

"He re-energised that club and he brought that enthusiasm and fanaticism that great supporters can give. That's the job he did.

"And he also brought three great players to the club - [David] Ginola, [Faustino] Asprilla, Philippe Albert - and added a bit of class to the team, and I must say the challenges we had with Newcastle at that time at United were huge."

Keegan was well known for his passion for the game and one of his most memorable moments in charge at St James' Park came during a Sky Sports interview in the middle of a tense title race against Ferguson's United side. In the now-famous Premier League moment, the England great called out his rivals' mind games as the title race came to a head.

However, Ferguson said the two bumped into each other at Wentworth Golf Club weeks after his side beat the Magpies to the title and the rivalry was quickly forgotten as the pair spent the night around the piano.

"The great thing about him, he held no grudges," Ferguson said. "That was a fantastic quality he had and we had a great night.

"All aside whatever happened in previous weeks, that was soon forgotten. I really respected him for that."

Newcastle fans and former players are continuing to pay tribute to Kevin Keegan, who has died aged 75.

BBC Radio Newcastle co-commentator and ex-player, John Anderson, arrived at Newcastle a couple of weeks before Keegan in 1982.

"It was a culture shock for me, I have to say, somebody who had won what he'd won and achieved what he had achieved in the game," Anderson said.

"But he made everyone feel so comfortable, he was such a humble guy and it didn't matter who you were, whether you were a team-mate, whether you were someone in the street, he spoke to everybody exactly the same.

"You hear the word 'legend' banded around all the time now - but Kevin Keegan's got to be put on a pedestal of legends."

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Lee Clark, who played under Keegan in the 90s said he was "very heartbroken" by the news.

"He wasn't just a manager to me, he was a hero at first and then he became my manager and my boss and friend, but then he became like a father figure," Clark said.

The now-Hartlepool manager said when he first passed his driving test, Keegan saw him behind the wheel of a sports car and made him take it back to the garage because he did not like the way he was driving it.

He did the same again with Clark's next car.

"He was like the Pied Piper to the Geordie public," Clark said. "They adore him.

"I was lucky enough to witness him revitalise not just Newcastle United Football Club but also the city on two separate occasions, once as a player in the early 80s when I was just a youngster standing on the terraces and then through to having him as my boss in the early 90s. He did it again as a manager - it was just unbelievable.

"This city will be in mourning for a long time, they've lost a special person.

"They always say no one person is bigger than a football club but if there was ever one person who was close to that with Newcastle United it was Kevin Keegan."

Listen to the special episode of the Football Daily podcast that remembers Keegan

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Former Newcastle and England captain Alan Shearer says he is "honoured" to have known the late Kevin Keegan.

Keegan passed away on Monday, leaving behind a legacy in English football both as a player and manager.

Tributes have poured in for the ex-Newcastle manager, who signed Shearer for a world record fee in 1996 and also took charge of England at a time when Shearer was captaining his country.

Shearer, Newcastle's record goalscorer, said: "He was my hero. He was my manager. For Newcastle and England.

"He was my friend. A man everyone loved. For his passion. For his energy but most of all for his friendship. He loved football and he loved Newcastle more than anything.

"I'm so honoured to have known him. We will miss you Kevin."

Below - or here on BBC Sounds - you can listen to BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck pay tribute to "one of the most significant" people in Newcastle United's history.

Raisbeck unearths old audio from the Keegan era, considers the Newcastle legend's upbringing and explains why his move to the Magpies felt like "coming home".

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Kevin Keegan's former assistant Terry McDermott has issued the following statement through his family: "We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend, Kevin Keegan.

"Kevin was so much more than a team-mate. He was a lifelong friend whose warmth, loyalty, humour and passion for football touched so many lives. The memories they shared, both on and off the pitch, will be treasured forever.

"Although Terry's dementia means he is no longer able to express his feelings publicly, we know how much Kevin meant to him and how deeply this loss would have affected him.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Jean, Laura, Sarah and all of Kevin's family at this incredibly sad time. We hope they find comfort in the love and respect being shown for Kevin by so many people.

"Kevin was one of football's true greats, but to Terry he was, above all, a cherished friend. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten."

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Newcastle say eligible supporters will be able to vote on new club crest options in August as work continues to update the existing badge.

The club announced they were undergoing a "thoughtful evolution" process to update their crest, moving away from the design they have used since 1988, in May 2025.

Following meetings with a variety of audiences at supporter events and focus groups, the club said there was a clear message to "simplify and protect what already exists".

"Do not reinvent and do not start again," the club added. "Craft an elegant, flexible, modern visual identity, but only if the club's core heritage is protected."

Eligible supporters will consist of men's and women's season ticket holders, Mags and Mags+ members as of 18 July 2026 and anyone who purchased tickets for two or more women's matches during the 25-26 season at Gateshead International Stadium.

What do you make of the situation? Are you glad supporters are being allowed to have their say on the future crest, or do you still think it shouldn't even be being changed?

Get in touch with your views here

Newcastle and Leeds are among the Premier League clubs weighing up a move for FC Midtjylland striker Franculino Dju, 22, with the Danish club seeking in excess of £21m for the Guinea-Bissau international. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Thirty-four years ago a £13m transfer caused national outrage in Italy.

When AC Milan signed Gianluigi Lentini from Torino in 1992 for a then world record fee, newspapers called the deal "obscene", while the Vatican's official newspaper described it as "an offence against the dignity of work".

Today that fee would barely register among the Premier League's biggest transfers.

This summer alone Chelsea have agreed a club record £117m deal for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest £116m for Elliot Anderson, and Tottenham spent a club record £100m on Sandro Tonali.

These are not the only major deals. Tottenham also agreed an £85m move for West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, Barcelona paid £69m to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, and Manchester United spent £50m on Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.

It is the first transfer window in Premier League history to produce three £100m-plus signings - and there are still weeks to go before deadline day on 1 September.

During the 2025 summer window English top-flight clubs spent a record £3bn.

So why are transfer fees continuing to climb? Why are clubs paying record sums for players already playing in England? And why are more clubs willing to sell some of their biggest stars?

Read more here on the big spending taking place in the Premier League

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We asked for your memories of Newcastle legend Kevin Keegan after the sad news of his passing was announced on Monday.

Here are some of your replies and stories:

John: He was the greatest English player of his generation and Newcastle were blessed to have him as a player at the end of his career in the 80s, and as an inspirational manager in the 90s. King Kev was a special person who won the hearts of an adoring Geordie nation, and took us to the brink of winning the Premier League in the 1995-96 season. He inspired the players and fans to dream and achieve greatness, and is undoubtedly a legend who will live long in our hearts and minds. He deserves a statue and a stand naming after him. RIP King Kev.

Ali: I was lucky enough to get a ticket for King Kev's final game at Newcastle when the helicopter landed on the pitch and took him away after the celebrations. I was a young teenager at the time and couldn't believe how many grown men around me were crying when the helicopter took off. He was absolutely loved and worshipped.

Ashley: I met Kevin a couple of times, he was always pleasant and happy to chat and give his time to those who had come to see him. He was the reason I fell in love with football and became a Newcastle fan. He truly got the club going in the right direction and even though we didn't win a trophy with him, I would not change it. Thank you King Kev and rest easy.

Colin: What an amazing man! Big heart, took the city to heart. Brought so much happiness and joy to my family! Rest in peace.

Hugo: After watching him score his first goal, on debut, for Newcastle from the Gallowgate End in to which he slotted the ball, I won a competition to play football with Kevin Keegan when he was a Newcastle player. He gifted me a signed copper print of that goal that I still treasure today. Legend.

Sandra: A great player, I was thrilled and proud when he became Newcastle's manager and got us so close to winning the league title. A Geordie legend and a great loss to football.

Jonny: Met him and the whole Newcastle squad in a departure lounge at Newcastle Airport in 1993 on my way to a school skiing trip aged 11. All my classmates had gone round the squad getting autographs and photos but I was running late and last to arrive, so by the time I got to them most of the players had packed up and were moving on. He made them all come back into the room to sign for me because he didn't want me to be the only kid jetting off without a bag full of autographs. It's not just the football he was loved for.

Gary: He was the modern Newcastle United. A generation fell in love with football and the club because of him. He saved the club, he saved us. I don't think you can ever underestimate the impact he had on Tyneside and its people. He may never have delivered the silverware but he gave us hope. He let us dream and that's what football should be.

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Legendary former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has paid tribute to Kevin Keegan, who has died at the age of 75.

Lawrenson worked as a coach under Keegan during his time as Newcastle boss.

"He had time for everybody," Lawrenson told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"You wouldn't say in terms of football that he was completely gifted, but he worked like stink to get himself even better and quicker and everything.

"Just such a lovely lovely man who had time for everybody. It's a very, very sad afternoon.

"What is quite unusual is opposition supporters would actually clap when he came onto the pitch, which they very, very seldom do.

"The way he made himself into a top player was great for all people to see.

"He went to Liverpool. At the start of the season you have a game between potential first-team and the team who will play against them.

"He played in that game against the first team and at the end, Bill Shankly put him in the team and Kevin basically never got out of the team. He got better and better and he was a top footballer, he really was.

"He was then a really good manager. Newcastle really love and loved him. He went there at the right time and he was just great with everybody.

"Keegan did fab at Newcastle. He was just fun as well."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Kevin Keegan's management trademark was all-out, thrilling attack, with his former Liverpool and Newcastle team-mate Terry McDermott at his side and charismatic chairman Sir John Hall shaping the off-field strategy.

He had initial differences with Hall over transfer cash, prompting another classic Keegan quote when he said: "It's not like the brochure."

Matters were quickly resolved and soon Newcastle were on their way.

Having saved Newcastle from relegation to the third tier, Keegan inspired them to promotion to the Premier League, finishing only behind champions Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers in 1993-94 with goals and creativity provided by strikers Andy Cole and the returning Peter Beardsley.

Cole was sold to Manchester United in a surprise move in January 1995, Keegan famously standing on the steps outside St James' Park to explain the decision to unhappy fans.

The peak of Keegan's reign, along with the biggest disappointment, came in 1995-96 when Newcastle, strengthened by the addition of high-class stars such as Les Ferdinand and David Ginola, moved 12 points clear in the title race, only to squander the advantage to Manchester United.

There were two enduring images of Keegan as glory escaped his grasp, head bowed as Liverpool scored in stoppage time to win 4-3 in an all-time Premier League classic in April - before that tirade aimed at Ferguson.

Alex Ferguson questioned whether Leeds and Nottingham Forest would try as hard against Newcastle as they would against Manchester United - and after a win at Elland Road, Keegan exploded.

His broadside ended with the never-to-be-forgotten quote: "I will love it if we beat them. Love it."

Sadly for Keegan, Newcastle did not.

Some felt Keegan's time at Newcastle never recovered from that crushing blow, but his charisma and the call of home helped England's top marksman Alan Shearer reject Manchester United to make a world record £15m move from Blackburn that summer.

Shearer's debut ended in a 4-0 loss in the Charity Shield to the club he turned down, revenge exacted spectacularly with a 5-0 win at home in the Premier League two months later.

Keegan then stunned Tyneside on 8 January 1997 by resigning, saying in a short statement: "I feel I have taken the club as far as I can."

Tyneside was later overcome with joy and excitement when Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley announced Keegan's return as manager in January 2008.

It was an ill-starred pairing, Keegan resigning after only eight months following differences with Ashley and Newcastle's hierarchy, including his former England player Dennis Wise, who was executive director.

Read more on Keegan's life and career here following his death at the age of 75

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Kevin Keegan, who has died aged 75, was one of football's most charismatic and influential figures in a career of many chapters that took him from superstar player to elite manager.

While some may remember him best for his ill-fated reign as England manager, he will rightly be much more celebrated as a world-class player at Liverpool and Hamburg, captaining England, and shining latterly at Southampton and Newcastle United, before becoming arguably the most beloved figure in the Tyneside club's history.

Keegan felt Southampton, even under the shrewd management of Lawrie McMenemy, did not match his ambition so he signed for Newcastle - then in the old Division Two - for £100,000 just before the start of the 1982-83 season.

It was the start of a love affair when Keegan scored on his debut against Queens Park Rangers.

Newcastle were promoted to the top flight in 1983-84, but Keegan announced he would retire at the end of that season, a decision prompted by getting caught by Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson when clean through in an FA Cup third-round tie at Anfield which his old club won 4-0.

In typical Keegan fashion, he felt he had lost a vital yard of pace so it was time to go, leaving St James' Park after a final game, his testimonial against Liverpool, still dressed in his Newcastle kit while he was whisked away by helicopter.

Keegan moved to Spain with his family vowing never to enter management, but on 5 February 1992, almost eight years after his final game as a player, Keegan returned to Tyneside.

Come back to this Newcastle page later for part two of Keegan's obituary

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Former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75, seven weeks after he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer.

One of English football's most decorated players, Keegan enjoyed spells at Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle during an illustrious playing career.

A two-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, he later went on to manage Newcastle, Fulham, England and Manchester City.

In a club statement, Newcastle said: "We are devastated to learn of the passing of Kevin Keegan, one of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club's history.

"Kevin was more than a legendary footballer and manager. He was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters.

"As a player, he brought world-class talent, ambition and belief to St. James' Park, helping to transform perceptions of what Newcastle United could be.

"As a manager, he ignited our city. Kevin gave supporters hope and pride, and led a team whose style, spirit and passion captured the imagination of football fans around the world. He was so much more than an Entertainer.

"Above all that, Kevin forged an extraordinary bond with Newcastle, built on the roots of his father, Joe. He understood our people. He embraced the North East with a passion that was genuine and unwavering, and in return, he earned his rightful place in the hearts of millions.

"Kevin's impact will not be measured by appearances or results. It will live on in the memories he created with club and country, the dreams he inspired wherever he went, and the generations of supporters around the world who fell in love with football because of him.

"Today, we mourn the loss of a true giant of our history, and at the appropriate moment, we will carefully consider how we shape a lasting tribute to Kevin's remarkable life and legacy."

What are your favourite memories of 'King Kev'? Were you fortunate enough to meet him?

Get in touch with your stories here

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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Newcastle United have completed the signing of 19-year-old forward Afner Ca.

The teenager joins the club's academy on a free transfer after his contract expired at Levante.

"The project here, the lifestyle, and the club's ambition made this the right move for me," said Ca.

"I'm a forward who likes to find space, link play and work hard for the team.

"Scoring goals is a big part of my game, but my focus is always on contributing to the group, whatever helps the team win."

Ca scored four goals for Levante's under-19s in his one and only season in Spain last term.

He previously made his senior debut for Portuguese third-division side Amora during the 2024-25 campaign.

Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson said Ca had an "exciting profile" and showed "real growth" over the past couple of years.

"We're committed to adding talented young players who can grow with us," he added. "We're excited to work with him in our development programme."