Kevin Keegan declares ‘Eddie Howe understands the identity and emotional heartbeat of Newcastle United’

Eddie Howe and Kevin Keegan, my two favourite Newcastle United managers of all time.

Sir Bobby, Rafa, Chris Hughton, Arthur Cox, they were all good guys as well for NUFC.

However, KK and our trophy winner are clear of the rest, neck and neck.

Kevin Keegan and Eddie Howe overseeing the greatest years of my time supporting Newcastle United.

If United go on to win another trophy this season and/or qualify for the Champions League a third season in four, well, that may well just tip the balance and I will have a clear favourite ever St James’ Park boss.

One thing Eddie Howe and Kevin Keegan have in common as well, is that when they speak, it is worth listening to.

This week KK was back at his old club Scunthorpe United, at an event organised by Guinness.

Ahead of this weekend’s derby, Kevin Keegan asked what he thinks of the current Newcastle United manager and he summed it up perfectly…

Ahead of the first Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland in the Premier League for almost a decade this weekend, Keegan said: “Eddie Howe understands the identity and emotional heartbeat of Newcastle United. Something that many managers before him [at Newcastle United] struggled with.”

Kevin Keegan…I just love it,, just love it, when he speaks about our club and brilliant manager.

KK adding that; “Eddie Howe has rebuilt the club’s connection with supporters through honesty, hard work and a clear style of play…”

With two Champions League qualifications in the last three seasons and that trophy win in March, Kevin Keegan signing off with; “Newcastle United finally look like a club moving forward with real purpose.”

Hearing what Kevin Keegan had been saying this week, reminded me of what was on The Mag just after the October 2021 takeover.

Exactly two weeks after we got rid of Mike Ashley on 7 October 2021, stalwart of The Mag, Jamie Smith, went along to a talk-in with Kevin Keegan at a local venue, obviously a very happy coincidence the timing of it, having been prebooked and sold out of course, ahead of the very welcome takeover.

Jamie Smith reported on what he had heard that night in October 2021, Kevin Keegan asked about how things would change now, with Mike Ashley finally leaving after a decade and a half;

“That’s what the owners will bring, they’ll bring a trust in.

“A trust with the people who are there and a trust with the supporters.

“That’s the thing that’s been broken over 14 years.

“You will accept tickets going up if you know those people are spending the money in the right places.

“You’ll buy those shirts in the shop for Christmas for your sons and grandkids.

“That’s the thing they have got to build back and I think they will.

“It’s onwards and upwards now and the fact it’s for Newcastle United is the biggest thing of all because no one deserves it more.”