Former England captain and coach Kevin Keegan has died aged 75. Confirmation of his death came from his family, seven weeks after he revealed he had stage four cancer.
Recognized as one of the most decorated athletes in British football, Keegan had a brilliant career, wearing the shirts of clubs such as Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle.
After ending his career on the pitch, he took on the role of coach, managing teams such as Newcastle, Fulham, the English national team and Manchester City.
In June, the former player had made public that he was facing advanced stage cancer (four), indicating that the disease had already spread to different parts of the body.
Keegan’s family initially reported his battle with the disease in January after he underwent a “detailed assessment for persistent abdominal symptoms” during a hospital stay.
A statement released on behalf of the Keegan family said he was “surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments.” The note highlighted that Kevin was a “much loved husband, father and grandfather.” The family took the opportunity to “thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support”, ending with a request for “space and privacy” in light of the delicate situation.
Newcastle United, one of his former clubs, paid tribute, describing Keegan as “one of the most iconic, influential and loved figures in our club’s history”. The team’s statement further stated that “Kevin was more than a legendary player and coach, he was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of fans.” The club concluded that “Kevin’s impact will not be measured by appearances or results. He will live on in the memories he created with club and country, in the dreams he inspired wherever he went and in the generations of fans around the world who fell in love with football because of him.”
Liverpool, the team where Keegan played between 1971 and 1977, spoke out declaring that Keegan’s “indomitable spirit and remarkable contribution will forever be etched in our history and his legacy will endure.”
Hamburg, from Germany, lamented that football lost one of its “defining figures” and that it will always “treasure” his memory. Fulham, another club he played for, highlighted that Keegan “created a strong connection” with the fans, who “will forever keep great memories” of his brief stay.
Both the England national team and Manchester City expressed their condolences to the Keegan family. City, in their statement, described him as “one of the most iconic and fondly remembered figures in English football”.
The England squad have announced they will hold a celebration of Keegan’s life and career on September 26 when they face Spain in a UEFA Nations League game at Wembley Stadium.
Kevin Keegan’s winning career and impact on football
During his playing years, Keegan racked up major titles with Liverpool over six years, including three national championships, the European Cup, two UEFA Cups and the FA Cup.
At Hamburg, he contributed to winning the Bundesliga and was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1978 and 1979, consecutively. He remains one of only four English athletes to have received this prestigious award to date.
During his time with the English national team, Keegan scored 21 goals in 63 matches between 1972 and 1982. Years later, he returned to coach the national team, from February 1999 to October 2000.
Keegan is remembered as one of the most transformative personalities in Newcastle’s history, being the creator of the team “The Entertainers”, which he challenged for the Premier League title in 1996.
