Alan Shearer returns to St James’ Park for his first match as manager of Newcastle, the club he served as a player.

Here looks back at 10 other ex-players who returned to take charge of the clubs where they were once idolised, and assesses whether they were a hit or miss.

KENNY DALGLISH

‘King Kenny’, as he will forever be known on The Kop, scored 172 goals in 515 games during a trophy-laden playing career with the Reds and is widely regarded as their best ever player. The Scot took over the hotseat in the wake of the Heysel tragedy in 1985 and led Liverpool to three league titles and two FA Cups - including the double in 1986 - before his shock resignation in 1991.

Verdict: Hit

KEVIN KEEGAN

Another to be crowned by his own, ‘King Kev’ starred briefly but brightly for Newcastle at the end of his playing days from 1982-84. He returned as boss in 1992, transforming the Magpies from a bunch destined for the third tier to a team who came within a whisker of winning the Premier League in 1996. An ill-fated second spell did not lower his standing among fans significantly.

Verdict: Hit

BILLY BREMNER

The Scot was a combative midfielder for Leeds who in his 17-year career at Elland Road skippered the club to two league titles, two Inter-City Fairs Cups, an FA Cup and League Cup. By the time he returned as manager in 1985, Leeds were in the doldrums and he failed to win promotion back to the top tier before his sacking three years later.

Verdict: Miss

GEORGE GRAHAM

His teams were effective rather than effervescent but two league crowns and an FA Cup, League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup are testament to his success as Arsenal boss from 1986 to 1995. He had been similarly successful as a midfielder at Highbury, helping the Gunners to the double in 1971 and the Fairs Cup a year earlier.

Verdict: Hit

OSSIE ARDILES

The diminutive Argentina midfielder was a skilful crowd favourite for Tottenham for 10 years after he signed in 1978, helping them to successive FA Cup wins in 1981 and 1982 - although the Falklands war meant he was stuck in his homeland for the latter triumph. In 1993 he took to the White Hart Lane dugout and, although his teams were entertaining, they seldom won and he left a year later.

Verdict: Miss

BILLY McNEILL

Arguably Celtic’s greatest captain who led the ‘Lisbon Lions’ to the European Cup in 1967, while during his 18-year career at Parkhead the Bhoys claimed nine league titles and numerous cups. Three further championships were secured in his first five-year spell as manager from 1978 and, when he returned in 1987, the double was won a year later.

Verdict: Hit

JOE ROYLE

A bruising but talented target man, the Scouser’s goals fired Everton to the First Division crown in 1970. The Toffees were a fading force when he arrived as boss in 1994 but he saved them from the drop before leading them to the FA Cup in 1995. Finished a creditable sixth a year later but it was all downhill from there and he resigned in 1997 with the club once again in the mire.

Verdict: Miss.

GRAEME SOUNESS

The moustachioed midfield enforcer was a favourite of Liverpool fans as a player - winning, among other trophies, five leagues and three European Cups - but his spell as boss from 1991 to 1994 was largely disastrous, despite the FA Cup win in 1992.

Verdict: Miss

TREVOR FRANCIS

From 1969 to 79, the striker did enough to become regarded as Birmingham’s greatest ever player and was the subject of the first £1million transfer when he was sold to Nottingham Forest. Francis became manager in 1996 and, although Blues reached the 2001 League Cup final, the holy grail of promotion to the Premier League proved elusive.

Verdict: Miss

JOHAN CRUYFF

The ‘Dutch Master’ is arguably the best player ever to have emerged from Europe and was crowned European Footballer of the Year twice during a five-year spell with Barcelona from 1973. As manager at the Nou Camp, a role he assumed in 1988, the Catalans won four Primera Liga titles and their first European Cup, in 1992.

Verdict: Hit