Jack Charlton won a World Cup medal as a player, and turned Ireland into the most boring side ever to play at the highest level. In between he quit the Newcastle job in 1985 after fans called for his head during a friendly against Sheffield United, and boy were we pleased to see the back of him!
He sold Chris Waddle to Spurs, and humiliated Peter Beardsley on the pitch after he made a goal in the final minute of a game at St James' Park when (after the final whistle) he raced on to grab him and point to the corner flag and tell him where he should have gone, rather than think of scoring.
But that was Charlton's way ... bore the life out of the opposition, and when they fall asleep, catch them on the break.
Charlton: "Take an entire midfield away from Chelsea, Man United or Arsenal and they would have more problems. Yes, everyone is very disappointed but get rid and who do you bring in? And at what cost to the club, who we are told have not got any money for transfers, never mind paying off managers?"
Richard Dinnis - who had a brief spell in the hotseat at St James' Park - was another name that conjures up horror visions. Player-power got him the job. A job he couldn't handle.
Dinnis: "I have heard people say being manager of Newcastle United is the hardest job in football and it has proved to be just that. People in other parts of the country do not realise how big a job it is.
"I was too young and too inexperienced for the job and I was very fortunate to get it. It is a massive, massive job. The challenge is there but it is just a question of getting the right man for it.
"It is a very similar situation to Old Trafford. If Sir Alex Ferguson goes who gets the Manchester United job? People in the rest of the country say the Newcastle job is not as big as the one at Manchester United but in my mind it is."
"Kenny Dalglish won the championship with Blackburn Rovers and Ruud Gullit lifted the FA Cup for Chelsea. However, does the background even these people have had in the game prepare them for managing Newcastle?"