Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to former rival Kevin Keegan, saying the ex-Newcastle United manager built the club's greatest ever team and "carried the love of the game on his sleeve". Keegan died aged 75, with his death announced on Monday, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across football to a man widely regarded as one of the sport's most passionate and charismatic figures.

Ferguson recalled their fierce managerial duels in the mid-1990s, when his Manchester United side pipped Keegan's Newcastle to the 1995-96 Premier League title after the Magpies squandered a 12-point lead. He praised Keegan for re-energising Newcastle following their 1992-93 promotion and for signing players such as David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla and Philippe Albert, as well as a then-world-record £15m capture of Alan Shearer in 1996. Ferguson also noted that Keegan bore no grudges, recalling a friendly encounter at Wentworth Golf Club shortly after their infamous title race. Keegan's career included three league titles and the European Cup at Liverpool, Bundesliga success with Hamburg, two Ballons d'Or, and later management spells at Fulham, Manchester City and England.