Fergie’s old foe Keegan returns to the fray

One man who will have been smirking into his cornflakes as he read about the Kevin Keegan's shock return to Newcastle United is his nemesis, rival manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The Manchester United boss prompted one of the great TV sports moments of the 1990s when his mind games during the 1996 title race pushed Keegan over the edge.

Keegan had taken Newcastle to the brink of their first title since 1927, but the cracks were beginning to show after the team threw away a 12-point lead at the top of the table. As Manchester United slowly overhauled them in the league, Ferguson had the temerity to suggest that teams were trying harder against his side than they were against Keegan's.

The comments obviously rankled, and after watching his club claim three vital points with a win over Leeds, a clearly emotional Keegan let rip in a live TV interview. Wild eyed, jabbing his finger at the camera and with his voice breaking, the Newcastle manager launched into a now legendary diatribe against Ferguson, culminating in the never-to-be forgotten exclamation: "I'll tell you honestly, I will love it if we beat them - LOVE IT!."

Ferguson, of course, was unfazed and the Reds of Manchester went on to pip Newcastle to the title. It was the beginning of the end and Keegan walked out on Newcastle the next season with the trophy cabinet still empty.

It won't be too long before the soap opera hits our screens once again. The old foes will be reunited next month when Keegan's Newcastle play host to Manchester United.