Slight Returns: Football’s returning heroes and villains
Newcastle United have confirmed that former manager Kevin Keegan will make a dramatic return to manage the club. Keegan’s first managerial tenure on Tyneside from 1992 to 1997 provided the Geordie fans with their most memorable modern era including 2nd and 3rd place Premier League finishes in 1995 and 1996.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has gambled that Keegan’s fabled motivation skills and his commitment to flair football will rouse the beleaguered Magpies squad and re-ignite the passion in fans numbed by Sam Allardyce’s defensive tactics.
Can Keegan work his magic on Tyneside again? Or will the age-old football adage that “you should never go back” ring true once more. MSN News examines five football managers who returned to the site of their former glories with mixed results.
Fabio Capello
The current England boss’ two tenures at Real Madrid were characteristically short and successful. In 1997, he delivered the La Liga title in his sole season in charge. He returned to the Bernabeu in 2006 and was immediately tasked with correcting the failings of the galacticos era. Despite falling out with Ronaldo and David Beckham, Madrid eventually pipped Barcelona to the title on head to head results.Capello also had two spells in charge of AC Milan. With players like Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten at his disposal, Don Fabio’s first stint at Milan was littered with free flowing football and trophies aplenty culminating with their 4-0 rout of Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League final and a 58-game unbeaten run. But his return to Milan for the 1997/98 season was surprisingly unsuccessful and he left after just one season.
Return rating: 8/10
Harry Redknapp
‘Arry’s first stint at Portsmouth resulted in promotion to the Premier League in 2003. He kept the club up in their first season in the top flight but a row with then-chairman Milan Mandaric prompted his resignation in November 2004. He then caused a storm by taking the reins at Pompey’s hated rivals Southampton.Redknapp returned to Fratton Park 11 months later with Portsmouth staring relegation in the face. Inspired signings and a spectacular run of form allowed them to survive and won over an extremely sceptical fan base. One season later, he led Portsmouth to their best ever Premier League finish (9th).
Return rating: 7/10
Graham Taylor
The oft-lampooned former England boss took charge of Aston Villa from 1987 to 1990. He guided his side to promotion from Division Two in his first season and took them to second place in the top flight in 1989/90.Taylor came out of retirement in February 2002 to return to Villa Park but the team could only finish a disappointing 16th place. He cited tensions in his relationship with chairman Doug Ellis and argued for an overhaul of the club's upper management before retiring again after just one season at the helm.
Return rating: 4/10
Graeme Souness
As an uncompromising midfield general, Souness powered Liverpool to unprecedented domestic and European success between 1978 and 1984.He returned to Anfield in 1991 as manager after Kenny Dalglish resigned due to reported health problems. Despite winning the FA Cup in 1992, Souness’ overall record of 65 wins from 157 games was nowhere near what was required. Pre-Souness, it would have been unthinkable to see players like Julian Dicks and Neil Ruddock wearing Liverpool shirts. It could be argued that Souness’ managerial tenure at Anfield killed the club’s ruthless winning mentality and is the primary cause for Liverpool’s 18-year league title drought.
Return rating: 3/10
Howard Kendall
With the help of an excellent squad of players including Kevin Sheedy, Kevin Ratcliffe and Andy Gray, Kendall masterminded Everton’s halcyon days in the 1980s. After winning the 1984 FA Cup, the Toffees followed up with a double of the league championship and the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following season. He left to manage Athletico Bilbao in 1987.
Kendall’s second spell in charge at Goodison Park lasted three years and was less distinguished. He left the club again in 1993 after a row over money for new signings.
Kendall obviously never heard the adage about not going back as he returned for a third spell at Everton in August 1997. He failed again to recapture the glory days and the club only avoided relegation on the final day of the season.
Return rating: 2/10
By Lee Harvey, MSN Search Editor
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not those of MSN or Microsoft.
