Ferguson hails Keegan as builder of Newcastle’s greatest team

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised Kevin Keegan, saying the former Newcastle boss “carried the love of the game on his sleeve” as he paid tribute to his former rival. Ferguson also credited Keegan with building what he described as Newcastle’s greatest team.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who managed Manchester United, made the comments as part of a public tribute to Kevin Keegan. The remarks were published on 2026-07-21. Ferguson referred to Keegan as a former rival while offering his assessment of Keegan’s impact at Newcastle.

Ferguson framed Keegan’s contribution to the club in strong terms, saying Keegan had assembled Newcastle’s greatest side. He emphasised Keegan’s visible passion for football, using the exact phrase “carried the love of the game on his sleeve.” Those words formed the core of Ferguson’s tribute.

The former Manchester United manager’s appraisal places Keegan’s achievements at Newcastle at the centre of his remarks. Ferguson’s statement links Keegan’s team-building with an abiding enthusiasm for the sport, expressed in language that highlighted personal warmth as well as professional accomplishment.

Ferguson identified his comments as a tribute to a figure he called a former rival, signalling mutual respect between the two men. The description of Keegan’s relationship with the game combined an acknowledgement of his managerial success with an observation about his character.

Ferguson’s comments, published on 2026-07-21, stand as a public acknowledgement of Kevin Keegan’s legacy at Newcastle. The tribute underlines Ferguson’s view that Keegan’s enthusiasm and team-building left a lasting mark on the club.