TA published an article saying that without Kevin Keegan, Newcastle United would not be what it is today. He made the city dream again.

In 1992, when Keegan returned to Newcastle for the second time as manager, the team was on the verge of relegation to the Third Division, and the board was rife with disagreements. His first act as manager was both symbolic and essential: a thorough "disinfection" of the first-team changing room.

Since playing his last game for Newcastle as a player eight years earlier, Keegan had only attended two matches. He wrote in his autobiography, "I had no interest in managing the club." But there was one exception, and the opportunity truly came knocking. "The whole atmosphere of Newcastle stirred something inside me," he said, "that underlying, bubbling energy that gave St. James' Park greater potential than anyone dared to dream of."

Born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in 1951, Keegan rose to prominence at nearby Scunthorpe United. He joined Bill Shankly's Liverpool, and this mentorship shaped him. He made 63 appearances for England and won the European Player of the Year award twice. After two seasons at Southampton, he shocked the football world in 1982 by joining Newcastle, then in the second tier. His late father, Joe, was a Geordie – this was always a pull. He led the team to promotion in his second season, then departed in style by helicopter.

Dreaming big was Keegan's specialty. Years later, in an interview with The Times, he said, "I want people to dream about their football club. We should all be dreamers inside. Some people, on the contrary, will say, 'We can't do it,' but when you ask them why, they can't give you a single reason. And I say, 'Why not?'"

He described managing Newcastle as "riding on the back of a black and white tiger," a feeling that was perfectly apt – wild, ecstatic, and with a hint of danger. He understood the rhythm of the city: everything building up to the weekend's release, and the football ground, situated in the city center, acting like a magnet on match days, drawing fans there.

Thirty-four years ago, it was not easy for people to see Newcastle in this light. The stadium had terraced stands and was dilapidated; the team was also in a sorry state. Keegan and his loyal assistant Terry McDermott kept the team in the First Division, but "their patience was tested to the limit because promises were broken." He left twice, once saying, "This isn't what it said in the brochure." But that pull had become a bond, and bonds always pull people back.

What happened next was amazing. The Premier League was founded in 1992, and Keegan's Newcastle couldn't wait to be a part of it. He had a keen eye for signings, complemented talented local players, and instilled confidence. The team's playing style was breathtaking, tearing apart opposing defenses with intricate short passing and swarming to win the ball back after losing possession. The entire city was transformed, brimming with life and vitality. Every Saturday, fans would queue for hours outside St. James' Park to get in.

The astonishing deeds didn't stop. Newcastle were promoted to the Premier League, and Shearer's 41 goals helped the team finish third. The city's fervor for the team also prompted Amanda Staveley to raise funds for the club's takeover. Staveley later successfully completed the acquisition and, in an interview with The Athletic, asked, "Why is Kevin Keegan so little appreciated externally?"

"Long before I ever dreamt of becoming a manager, I was captivated by Keegan's 'Entertainers' team," said current Newcastle manager Eddie Howe when speaking about Keegan. "That team played with courage, freedom, and passion. It made people fall in love not only with football but also with Newcastle United." Howe also regards Keegan as a friend, calling his "guidance and support incredibly significant."

Club CEO Darren Eales, in a letter to fans, called Keegan "the beating heart of Newcastle United. He shaped what this club means in Newcastle and around the world. His impact will endure for generations." He also stated that "the club will consider how best to commemorate his extraordinary life and legacy in the short and long term."

Keegan deserves a statue, or a stand named after him, or some other form of permanent commemoration. But from another perspective, perhaps that's not so important. Dreams are not cast in concrete, steel, or bronze. While he never laid a single brick or dug a single foundation, Keegan and his team built the soul of St. James' Park. He is St. James' Park. And the reason the people of Newcastle can still dream of their football club is because Keegan once boldly asked – "Why not?"

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