Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United side of the mid-1990s as the greatest team in the club's history, according to BBC News, offering a warm tribute to his former Premier League title rival.
Ferguson, whose Manchester United side famously overhauled a 12-point deficit to pip Keegan's Newcastle to the 1995-96 title, said Keegan "carried the love of the game on his sleeve" — a remark that speaks to the enduring respect between two managers whose rivalry became one of English football's most iconic storylines.
Keegan's attacking, free-scoring Newcastle team, built around stars like Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand, is remembered fondly by fans despite falling short of silverware, and Ferguson's comments underline just how highly regarded that side remains among his peers.
While BBC News did not detail further specifics of Ferguson's tribute, the praise reflects the lasting impact Keegan's Newcastle era had on the Premier League's competitive landscape and its place in the game's folklore.