Kevin Keegan's arrival at Manchester City in 2001 marked a turning point for the club, following the departure of Joe Royle. Royle had led City from the third division back to the Premier League, including a dramatic playoff final comeback against Gillingham at Wembley. However, after relegation, the club needed a new direction.
Keegan's Appointment and Immediate Impact
Keegan, a former England manager and Newcastle United boss, was seen as a coup for a second-division club. His star power attracted quality players like Ali Benarbia and Eyal Berkovic, and City won promotion back to the Premier League in 2001–02, scoring 100 goals in the process. The atmosphere at Maine Road was electric.
Building a Competitive Squad
Back in the top flight, Keegan's reputation helped sign marquee names: Nicolas Anelka, Sylvain Distin, Robbie Fowler, Marc-Vivien Foé, and Peter Schmeichel. City finished ninth in 2002–03 and qualified for the UEFA Cup via the Fair Play rankings.
The Move to the Etihad
Keegan led City into the new City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad) in 2003 with a friendly against Barcelona. Dennis Tueart, a City legend and board member, recalled: "We played Barcelona in a friendly game here – 34,000 in the new stadium because it was a test event. Barcelona walking out at the Etihad - and everyone’s got blue shirts in the stadium. And I thought, that’s where we should be."
Legacy and Fond Memories
Keegan left City in 2005, but his impact endured. Tueart said in 2021: "We wouldn’t have got players like Peter Schmeichel, Nicolas Anelka, Ali Benarbia, Eyal Berkovic – we wouldn’t have got those quality players without Kevin Keegan. All of a sudden, we were flying again." Fans still cherish the attacking football and promotion season, which remains a high point in City's modern history.
