Ferguson pays tribute to great rival Keegan

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from RTE or go back to LFC Live.

Updated / Tuesday, 21 Jul 2026 12:43 Getty Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Kevin Keegan of Newcastle United Alex Ferguson has hailed the fierce managerial rival who built Newcastle's "best ever team" amid an ongoing outpouring of affection for Kevin Keegan. We had many duels when he was manager of Newcastle, but I have to say the job he did at Newcastle was fantastic.

"And he also brought three great players to the club – (David) Ginola, (Faustino) Asprilla, Philippe Albert – and added a bit of class to the team, and I must say the challenges we had with Newcastle at that time at United were huge. They brought these great players to the club too and they added to it, and it gave Newcastle – I think – their best ever team." That emotion memorably boiled over in April 1996 when, with Ferguson’s United chasing down Keegan’s Premier League leaders Newcastle – they would ultimately snatch the title from their grasp – the former England striker made an emotional outburst during a Sky Sports interview.

That was a fantastic quality he had and we had a great night. Trevor Brooking, who played alongside him for England, said in a statement: "I am so very sad to hear the devastating news about my friend and former team-mate Kevin Keegan.