I’ve read a friend of mine write about Kevin Keegan return to Newcastle is probably the worst ever football comeback, and a possible to be the next Howard Kendall at Everton. I appreciate his opinion, but I see that King Kev is different than Kendall.
The only similarity between Keegan and Kendall is that both have come to their club as a player before later become their manager.
Howard Kendall who is also a Geordie lad, born 22 May 1946 in Ryton, Tyne and Wear, has an uncle Harry Taylor who played for Newcastle United and Fulham in the 1950s. He made his name to famous with Everton, signed for them in a £80,000 transfer fees in March 1967. Originally played as defender he was moved into midfield with Alan Ball and Colin Harvey.
In May 1981 Kendall returned to Everton as player-manager, played four games before finally retiring as a player. As a manger, he is struggled and was on the verge of being sacked in January 1984. He left Everton in 1987 to manage Athletic Bilbao in Spain.
He turned down an offer to manage Newcastle United in 1989 to remain in Spain just to get sacked in November 1989. The following month he returned to England as manager of Manchester City, before returning to Everton in November 1990.
He was less successful the second time around, resigning in December 1993 after a row about money for signings. After another journey as the manager of other club like Greek club Xanthi, Sheffield United and Notts County, he made the third return to Everton August 1997, but resigned at the end of the season having only managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the season.
As you noticed, Howard second return to Everton was innitially have no back-up plan from the Everton boards. King Kev return as the manager of Newcastle United is because he was chosen by the United boards and owner. King Kev will have all the back-up of money to signed any players he like.
I also don’t think that Kendall has the closer relationships between him and the Everton fans despite his “Holy Trinity” with Ball and Harvey. Keegan was having the soul connection with the Toon Army, to get the ranks of the Messiah was a genuine prove of what Keegan’s means for the Toon Army.
I know it’s very early to say that Keegan will be more successful on his second attempt as the manager of Newcastle, but with the significant back-up from Mike Ashley and with the help of luck, he will make it this time. He has an “Unfinished business” at Newcastle, and that is to bring the silverwares for Newcastle United.