Kevin Keegan

Charisma and determination personified, Kevin Keegan will be remembered as a quitter, while among the Geordie public he will always be hailed as a Messiah.

Keegan's return to football came as a shock after he quit Manchester City, having seemingly fallen out of love with the game. Having spent three years out of the sport, no-one could have foreseen his return to Newcastle, following the sacking of Sam Allardyce in January 2008 and no-one could have foreseen his exit from the club soon after.

Keegan's career as a manager reflects his time as a player, always looking to attack and outscore the opposition. His philosophy was to entertain, to create an atmosphere and passion both on the pitch and in the stands.

As a player, Keegan was without doubt one of the most gifted forwards of his generation, starring at Liverpool, SV Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle after humble beginnings at Scunthorpe United. He captained his country and was twice named European Player of the Year - in 1978 and 1979 and he became a legend at Newcastle United in his last two years as a player.

After hanging up his boots, Keegan left the game completely - bar the odd appearance as a pundit. So it came as a shock when he launched his managerial career in 1992. Newcastle United were languishing at the wrong end of the old Second Division and looking likely to go down after a poor spell under Osvaldo Ardiles, but Keegan transformed their fortunes.

After being so close to the drop in the 1991-92 season, few could have predicted the runaway success of the following campaign. Newcastle won the first eleven games of the season, and would go on to clinch the First Division title.

Newcastle appeared to be on the crest of an unrelenting wave as Keegan guided them to third in their first season back among the elite. The Newcastle board was prepared to fund his squad building, and despite ending up in sixth the following term they would have a real crack at the title in 1995-96. Keegan looked to have built up an unassailable 12-point lead over Manchester United, but then the wheels fell off. Sir Alex Ferguson's men sensed all was not well at St James' and set about clawing back the deficit.

Everyone remembers Keegan's now legendary tirade in front of the Sky TV cameras after a game against Leeds United. He knew the title had gone, but his 'I'd Love it' rant, surrounding Manchester United's up-coming trip to Middlesbrough, clearly showed that the popular boss had lost the plot.

Within months Keegan had left Newcastle, announcing his resignation in January 1997, although the club went on to finish second once again. It was thought that Keegan would wash his hands of football, but he'd got the bug and just eight months later he was unveiled as chief operating officer at Second Division Fulham, with friend Ray Wilkins installed as manager.

Taking over the managerial role, he again proved himself as Fulham stormed to the Second Division title in 1998-99, but as the season moved towards its conclusion Keegan would find a new distraction. The FA approached Keegan to take charge of the England side on a temporary basis following Glenn Hoddle's sacking in February 1999. He took the job permanently on May 14 but his tactical shortcomings were found out. He guided the side to the Euro 2000 finals in Holland and Belgium after a play-off victory over Scotland, but failed to make it past the group stage despite beating old rivals Germany in the process.

Keegan would again bounce back, this time accepting the challenge of reviving yet another club outside the top flight, when he took charge of Manchester City after their relegation to the First Division on May 24, 2001, signing a five-year contract. He was supported with cash by the City board, and they bounced back by winning the First Division title with ease - amassing 99 points and scoring 108 goals.

After battling relegation in the top flight, Keegan stated he would not be at the club after his contract expired in the summer of 2006. That led to speculation he would leave at the end of the 2004-05 season. As was previously seen with Sir Bobby Robson, Gordon Strachan and Gary Megson in recent seasons it was a situation that causes major problems a club's long-term future and stability and he left on March 10, by mutual consent.

Spending the next few years out of the game, including a stint running a circus based on soccer, it was a complete shock when it was announced in January 2008 that Keegan would be returning to Newcastle to try to bring some attacking flair back to the Magpies' faltering side.

He brought some attacking flair back to the club, but clashed with new owner Mike Ashley who claimed he would have total control of the club, and then forced a director of football, Dennis Wise, and various players upon him. The loan signing of Uruguayan Ignacio Gonzalez - based on footage from YouTube - proved the last straw for Keegan, who walked out of the club on September 2, 2008.

He took Ashley to court over his compensation claim, with a fee of £16.5 million quoted, but only received £2 million. He claimed that the legal action had been to restore his reputation in the game; but found himself a new career as a pundit for ESPN.