Former Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton has revealed it was a phone call from club legend Kevin Keegan which lured him to Tyneside.
Hughton was appointed as the Magpies' first-team coach in February 2008 after he was dismissed following 14 years at Tottenham.
The former Republic of Ireland international enjoyed caretaker spells in charge before being appointed full-time in the summer of 2009 following the Magpies' relegation.
Hughton guided United back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, going the full season unbeaten at St James' Park and clinching the Championship title.
But following a 3-1 defeat to West Brom, Hughton was the first Premier League manager of the 2010/11 season to be sacked in a decision which provoked widespread condemnation among pundits and supporters.
The 60-year-old is fondly remembered for his stint on Tyneside, despite the club's decision to appoint a replacement with "more manageable experience".
Speaking on The Coaches' Voice , Hughton has spoken of the challenge of making the transition from coach to manager, and revealed it was Kevin Keegan who convinced him to swap London for the North East.
Hughton said: "I got a phone call around about February time from Kevin Keegan.
"Kevin - who I'd known and played against in my travels but hadn't known so well [personally] - asked if I could come up to Newcastle as first-team coach.
"My initial reaction was yes because it was an opportunity to get straight back into football.
"All of my playing career had been in London, so I think the challenge of particularly going to Newcastle and the opportunity of working with Kevin Keegan was something that was very exciting for me, and something I didn't really have to think about."
Former Tottenham defender Hughton enjoyed 14 years as a coach at White Hart Lane, and admits his "drive" to become a manager was fuelled by his time in north London working under the likes of George Graham and Martin Jol.
He finished: "For the majority of my time there, my biggest drive was to do the best job I can in the job that I was doing.
"I thoroughly enjoyed being a coach. Every time a new manager came in was another test.
"That desire to want to manage became stronger and I honestly believe my transition into management was helped very much by the years that I had and the managers I worked with in that period of time."
