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Kevin Keegan took charge of Manchester City in May 2001, seven months after leaving the England job, inheriting a club that had just been relegated from the Premier League.
One of his first moves was signing Stuart Pearce as a senior figure in the dressing room. "I felt we just needed a leader, and this is something I've done at all my clubs," Keegan said. "I've always tried to bring in someone who will help you manage the players."
His first competitive match was a Saturday evening home fixture against Watford at Maine Road, which City won 3-0. The opening campaign ended with the Championship title secured by a 10-point margin, with 108 goals scored across the season.
In his second season, City brought in Nicolas Anelka, Sylvain Distin and Peter Schmeichel on a free transfer, and Marc Vivien Foe joined on loan from Lyon. The campaign closed with a 3-1 win over Manchester United in the final Maine Road derby and a ninth-place Premier League finish.
City also qualified for the 2003/04 UEFA Cup through the Fair Play rankings — the club's first European football in 24 years.
The 2003/04 season proved difficult, with City close to the relegation zone for long periods. Keegan resigned in March 2005, having stabilised the club in the top flight after winning promotion.
As a player, Keegan won two Ballon d'Or awards. He made his name at Liverpool, moved to Hamburg where he was part of the European Cup-winning side, then played for Southampton and finished his career at Newcastle United, where he later combined the roles of player and manager before guiding the club back to the top flight.