Keegan's Geordie love affair

[Getty Images] 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