Ali Benarbia has proved an inspirational signing

And that was Keegan, a virtual identi-kit of the sort of manager an unwieldy football beast like Manchester Ciy needed.

He has succeeded in style.

Maine Road fans love their football with a flamboyant flourish, reared on men like Francis Lee, Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee.

They had also developed an almost masochistic taste for life on the edge.

What better man than Keegan to fulfil those needs - and maybe add a successful finale?

Keegan's success at Newcastle and Fulham was built on a cavalier and crowd-pleasing style.

It may not have served him well with England, when the tactical subtleties of international football eluded him, but he could never be doubted at club level.

There may have been a slightly mixed reaction from City's fans to his appointment, but Keegan's monumental self-belief had not been dented by his lack of success with England.

Keegan walked into Maine Road and stated: "My strength is building a club and a successful outfit that people want to be part of. I have proved that at Newcastle and Fulham.

"When you were a kid your mum always says don't go near the Maine Road - but anyone in their right mind would want to manager here."

Keegan's City played in the style everyone expected, with bags of attacking flair and occasional moments of comedy defending.

They even had the odd Keeganesque blip - such as defeat against perennial losers Stockport County - but this was outweighed by a sucession of stylish victories that brought more than 100 goals en route to the Premiership.

Keegan based his midfield around the mercurial skills of Eyal Berkovic and the inspired free transfer signing Ali Benarbia from Paris St Germain.

Keegan banished memories of England failure

If teams scored goals against City, Keegan would always back his own side to score more.

It is the Keegan way and, as at Newcastle and Fulham, it worked.

Keegan could have languished in contented retirement after England, but he could not ignore the call of club whose unique characteristics almost make it his spiritual home.

He still bears some of the scars of his England reign. It is clear some of the critics have not been forgotten and the FA was in his firing line for refusing to take veteran Arthur Cox as part of his management team.

But Keegan's name is a by-word for honesty as well entertainment, and the Premiership will be richer for his and Manchester City's presence next season.