Magpies pick Keegan - again - Sport in brief

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The 56-year-old was a hugely popular figure during his first spell as Magpies boss from 1992-1997, but was ranked as an outside candidate to replace Sam Allardyce, who left St James' Park last week after an unsuccessful short stint in charge.

Gerard Houllier and Didier Deschamps were strongly linked with the position in the past two days but the club unexpectedly announced Keegan as the club's new manager on their website on Wednesday afternoon.

Keegan was linked to the role but initially only in partnership with legendary striker Alan Shearer.

Keegan took Newcastle to promotion back to the top flight in 1993 and came close to winning the league title in the 1995-96 season when they famously led Manchester United by 12 points before finishing as runners up. He went on to manage Fulham, England and Manchester City but has been out of the game since leaving City in 2005 after a largely unsuccessful spell.

Harry Redknapp had been first choice for owner Mike Ashley and chairman Chris Mort but he last week opted to stay at Portsmouth. That only fuelled increased speculation about possible contenders with Mark Hughes, Houllier, Deschamps and Shearer being mentioned most prominently.

The message coming out of the club was that experience was the main prerequisite - instantly making Shearer a more unlikely candidate - and Shearer revealed he did not envisage being Keegan's number two.

Some fans had been hoping for a "dream team" of Keegan and Shearer but the 37-year-old said: "I haven't really seen myself as a number two."

The former England captain added on BBC1: "First and foremost I'm not so sure he's thought about it. He's his own man. If he were to ring me and ask to speak to me I would certainly speak to him. I'd be foolish not to. I was never really a serious possibility (for the manager's job) because they were looking for experience."

Shearer admitted he is still keen to manage Newcastle at some stage, adding: "It remains an ambition to manage it some day, when that will be I don't know. I hope and pray that he (Keegan) does well because I'm a fan at the end of the day."