History of Newcastle United F.C. - Into The Premier League (1992-2007)

Into The Premier League (1992-2007)

Under Keegan, Newcastle survived relegation from the Second Division in May 1992. Hall aimed to put Newcastle among Europe's biggest clubs, Kevin Keegan stayed on as manager and both swung into action. The club's finances were transformed, and signings like Rob Lee and Andy Cole helped Newcastle to promotion the following season, 1992-93, as the First Division champions. In the Premier League they quickly became recognised as a serious force, finishing third in 1993-94, narrowly missing out on the championship in 1995-96, and claiming second place again in the 1996-97 season.

Meanwhile, St James' Park was redeveloped into an all-seated stadium with a capacity of 36,000. This increased to 52,000 in the late 1990s, after the rejection of Hall's proposal to build a larger stadium at Castle Leazes.

The team built up a reputation for playing attacking, almost cavalier, football under Keegan. High-profile signings included foreign stars David Ginola and Faustino Asprilla, and British players Alan Shearer (in a world-record £15 million deal), Peter Beardsley, and striker Les Ferdinand. Despite this, the team failed to win any trophies, and Keegan resigned as manager on 8 January 1997, saying "I feel that I have taken the club as far as I can".

Newcastle's next two managers, Kenny Dalglish then Ruud Gullit, had short reigns. Each one guided the club to an FA Cup final (in 1998 and 1999). Dalglish led Newcastle into their first Champions League campaign and beat Barcelona 3-2, but the team failed to progress beyond the group stage. But it was the club's declining league form, and respective 13th-place finishes, that caused Dalglish to be sacked (early in 1998-99) and Gullit to resign. After a year in the job, Gullit had also fallen out with several senior players including Shearer and captain Rob Lee.