Keegan believes he has the men within his squad to take over his mantle.
Keegan: "Oh yes, we have got lots of players here who are leaders.
"When Alan was here, it almost seemed like they had one leader. Alan was a strong character and a Geordie and set massively high standards for himself and for others.
"Now, we have got four or five who are doing that, it is not just one.
"There is Michael Owen, there is Geremi, there is Abdoulaye Faye, there is Habib Beye, Mark Viduka and Nicky Butt - we have got plenty of experienced people who lead in their way.
"It is not necessarily the way Alan did it or necessarily the way anybody else does it, but we are certainly not short of leaders.
"My father was a Geordie, I have got it in my genes. But yes, I do, I know what it means having played in them, having managed in them.
"This is Newcastle, I am a Geordie - I am naturalised almost now in these games because I have played in a few and managed in a few.
"I know what they are about."