Football icon Kevin Keegan passes away
Football icon Kevin Keegan passes away
Kevin Keegan, a prominent figure in English football as both a player and manager, has passed away at the age of 75. His family announced in January that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and he himself revealed that it was stage four. A statement from his family described him as a “much loved husband, father and grandfather” and thanked his medical team for their support, requesting privacy during this difficult time.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world. Alan Shearer, who played under Keegan at both Newcastle and England, expressed his sorrow on social media, calling him “My hero. My manager. My friend.” Newcastle United released a statement honouring Keegan as “one of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club’s history,” noting that he was “more than a legendary football and manager. He was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters.”
Floral tributes began to accumulate outside St James’ Park on Monday afternoon as fans paid their respects. Liverpool also acknowledged Keegan’s passing, stating that his “indomitable spirit and remarkable contribution will be forever etched in our history and his legacy will live on.”
A distinguished playing career
Keegan’s playing career began at Scunthorpe before he was signed by Bill Shankly for Liverpool in 1971 for £33,000. He quickly became known as “King Kev” for his attacking prowess, contributing to Shankly’s side winning three First Division titles, the FA Cup, the Uefa Cup twice, and the 1977 European Cup. Despite his humble beginnings, Keegan developed into one of the world’s top players, earning the nickname “Mighty Mouse” for his combative style.
He scored twice in Liverpool’s 3-0 victory against Newcastle in the 1974 FA Cup final. Later that year, in the Charity Shield against Leeds United, Keegan was sent off following an altercation with Billy Bremner. He was also instrumental in Liverpool’s Uefa Cup triumph in 1972-73, scoring twice in the first leg against Borussia Monchengladbach, a match that ended 3-0. Liverpool secured the trophy again in 1976, with Keegan scoring a crucial goal against Club Brugge.
In 1977, Keegan moved to Hamburg, where he achieved further success, winning the Bundesliga in 1978-79 and becoming the only British player to win the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1978 and 1979. He returned to England, playing for Southampton and Newcastle before retiring. During his international career, Keegan earned 63 England caps, scoring 21 goals and participating in the 1982 World Cup.
Managerial stints and lasting legacy
After retiring as a player, Keegan ventured into management, taking charge of Newcastle in 1992. He guided the club into the Premier League and led them to challenge for the 1995-96 title, ultimately finishing second to Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. His passionate “I will love it” speech from that season remains a memorable moment in English football history. He briefly managed Fulham before becoming England manager in 1999, a 20-month tenure that concluded after a defeat by Germany at Wembley following a disappointing Euro 2000 campaign.
A more successful period followed at Manchester City, who on Monday credited Keegan with helping establish them as a Premier League club. He made an emotional return to Newcastle in 2008, though this spell lasted only eight months due to tensions with the club’s then-owner, Mike Ashley, and his board. In 2009, a tribunal awarded Keegan £2m in damages for constructive dismissal. Keegan was made an OBE in 1982 for his contributions to football. He made a brief public appearance in June on Tyneside, where he expressed a desire to return to St James’ Park to say “goodbye.”
Newcastle’s statement concluded that Keegan’s “impact will not be measured by appearances or results. It will live on in the memories he created with club and country, the dreams he inspired wherever he went and the generations of supporters around the world who fell in love with football because of him.”
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Source: theguardian.com
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
