Former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan has died aged 75, with tributes paid to one of English football’s defining figures.
Kevin Keegan, who captained and later managed England, has died aged 75 after a battle with cancer.
Keegan passed away on Monday, surrounded by his wife and daughters, according to a statement released by his family.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75,” the statement read.
“Kevin was a much loved husband, father and grandfather.”
His family expressed gratitude to the medical staff who cared for him and have asked for privacy at this time.
News of Keegan’s cancer diagnosis first emerged in January, after he was admitted to hospital for tests on abdominal symptoms.
In May, during a public appearance in Newcastle, Keegan revealed his cancer was at stage four. He explained it had been discovered after scans following a car accident.
Keegan was born in Armthorpe, Doncaster, and started his professional journey at Scunthorpe United. His career took off when Bill Shankly signed him for Liverpool in 1971.
He quickly became central to Liverpool’s rise in the 1970s, scoring 100 goals in 323 games and helping the club to three league titles, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup and the European Cup.
His last game for Liverpool was the 1977 European Cup final, where he played a key part in the 3-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach that secured the club’s first European crown.
After leaving Liverpool, Keegan moved to Hamburg, winning the Bundesliga and becoming the first English player to claim the Ballon d’Or twice, in back-to-back years in 1978 and 1979.
He later played for Southampton and Newcastle United before retiring in 1984. Keegan won 63 England caps, scored 21 goals, and captained his country 31 times.
His connection with Newcastle United would become one of the defining stories of his career.
Keegan first made his mark at Newcastle as a player, then returned as manager in 1992 with the club facing relegation to the third tier. He led them to promotion the next season and turned the Magpies into genuine Premier League contenders.
His attacking Newcastle side, famously dubbed 'the Entertainers', finished second to Manchester United in 1995/96, having led the league by 12 points in January.
He went on to manage Fulham, England and Manchester City, before returning to Newcastle for a second spell in 2008.
Keegan took Fulham into the Premier League, won the First Division with Manchester City, and led England at Euro 2000. His last game as England manager was the defeat to Germany in the final match at the old Wembley.
Few have spanned the eras of English football quite like Keegan. European champion, double Ballon d’Or winner, England captain and the driving force behind one of the Premier League’s most celebrated sides, his legacy is woven into the fabric of the game.
