Sir Alex Ferguson has described Kevin Keegan as the architect of Newcastle United's finest ever side, paying a heartfelt tribute to his former managerial rival following Keegan's death at the age of 75.

Speaking to Track Radio, Ferguson recalled the fierce title battles between Manchester United and Newcastle United in the mid-1990s with great warmth. "I had the utmost respect for him," Ferguson said. "We had many duels when he was manager of Newcastle, but I have to say the job he did at Newcastle was fantastic."

The man who transformed Tyneside

Keegan's first spell as Newcastle boss ran from 1992 to 1997. He steered the club from the old First Division to the Premier League in 1992-93 and ultimately guided them to a runners-up finish behind United in 1995-96 — the season Newcastle famously surrendered a 12-point lead at the top.

"He re-energised that club and he brought that enthusiasm and fanaticism that great supporters can give," said Ferguson. "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."

Ferguson credited those signings and Keegan's infectious passion for producing what he considers Newcastle's peak. "It gave Newcastle — I think — their best ever team," he said.

No grudges held

The rivalry reached its most memorable flashpoint when Keegan delivered his famous "I will love it if we beat them" outburst on live television, a reaction to Ferguson publicly questioning whether Leeds United and Nottingham Forest would compete as fiercely against Newcastle as they would against United.

Yet Ferguson revealed that the animosity dissolved quickly. The two managers crossed paths at Wentworth Golf Club just weeks after the season ended, and the evening passed without bitterness. "The great thing about him, he held no grudges. That was a fantastic quality he had and we had a great night," said Ferguson. "I really respected him for that."

"Kevin carried the love of the game on his sleeve," Ferguson added. "That carried right on to the fans, to the players. That period at Newcastle was of emotion, it was excitement."

Tributes from across the game

Ferguson was among a wave of figures from football who paid tribute to Keegan, whose playing career spanned Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, and Newcastle United. At Liverpool between 1971 and 1977, he collected three league titles, the European Cup, two Uefa Cups, and the FA Cup. He then helped Hamburg win the Bundesliga and earned back-to-back Ballons d'Or in 1978 and 1979 — one of only four English players ever to have claimed the award.

Alan Shearer, whom Keegan signed for Newcastle for a then-world record £15 million in 1996, was among the most emotional voices. "He was my friend. A man everyone loved. For his passion. For his energy but most of all for his friendship. He loved football and he loved Newcastle more than anything," said Shearer. "I'm so honoured to have known him. We will miss you Kevin."

Current Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who reached out to Keegan upon his own appointment in 2021, described his predecessor as "an inspiration" and a personal friend. "He showed me incredible warmth and generosity," said Howe. "Kevin understood better than most the privilege and responsibility of leading Newcastle United."

Sir Kenny Dalglish — who was signed from Celtic to replace Keegan at Liverpool in 1977 and later succeeded him as Newcastle manager — called Keegan "one of the very best players of his generation" who "wore Liverpool's famous number seven shirt with great distinction." Dalglish added: "Football has lost one of its true greats."

Former Liverpool and England defender Phil Thompson described Keegan as the "best of all the people I have known in football and in sport," saying "humility poured out of Kevin's veins." Thompson recalled Keegan's arrival at Liverpool in 1971 as nothing short of a revelation: "We got a superhero and he was inspirational."

Keegan scored 21 goals in 63 appearances for England between 1972 and 1982, and later managed the national side from February 1999 to October 2000.