out on England seven months ago was named as the new manager of Manchester City.

Just three days after firing Joe Royle, City -- who will be playing in England's Division One next season -- hired the 50-year-old former Liverpool star on a five-year contract.

"We have all the ingredients here,'' Keegan said at a news conference at Maine Road. "This is a sleeping giant and it is my job to turn it around.

It's there to become one of the five or six top clubs in the country.

"It's a tremendous opportunity and it's up to me to make sure that this opportunity turns into something fantastic.'' Keegan said he was looking forward to the club moving to the new 50,000-capacity City of Manchester Stadium, which will be the team's home in two years' time.

"It is exciting to think that in a couple of years' time we will be in a new stadium,'' he said. "We must be in the Premiership by then.

Keegan has been out of soccer since he dramatically quit the England job after the team's 1-0 loss to Germany in a World Cup qualifying game October 7.

"I enjoyed every minute of the England job but my skills are more suited to club management,'' he said. "I want to build something that people want to be part of. I have done it at Newcastle and Fulham and that is my strength.

"I have missed the game. I am passionate about football and what you see is what you get. Sometimes you can lose focus but now I have a nice clear picture.'' Critics suggested the hiring was a major gamble because of Keegan's history of moving from job to job. But Keegan pointed out that he stayed five years at Newcastle.

Keegan admitted he still had something to prove.

"You have always got a point to prove, in management as well as in life,'' he said. "I have always felt that ever since when I was a kid kicking a football around and people said I was too small.'' City fired Royle on Monday after being relegated to Division One. That left question marks over the future of Bermuda striker Goater, who was signed by Royle and who has another three years on his contract at Maine Road.

Club chairman David Bernstein promised a big-name appointment as the 11th new manager in 14 seasons.

"This is a massive coup for City,'' said Bernstein, whose club has not won the league title since 1968. "We are bringing in one of the biggest names in football and flair is his trademark.

"I am delighted we have been able to bring Kevin to Maine Road. His talents, together with our club's great potential, promise an exciting and successful period.'' Keegan's appointment was welcomed by the man who succeeded him as England coach.

"Congratulations to him and Manchester City. I hope he will do a very good job,'' Sven-Goran Eriksson said. "I am very happy about it and I think Kevin Keegan should be in football, not out of it.

"I'm sure Kevin Keegan can do it at any level. He is a great coach, player, manager and man.'' When he quit the England job after a poor performance at Euro 2000 and then the World Cup loss to Germany, Keegan admitted that coaching was not his strength and his appointment at Maine Road isn't universally approved.

In the hotseat: New Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan.