Kevin Keegan dies aged 75

sportsJul 20, 20261472,853

Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75, his family confirmed, seven weeks after he revealed a diagnosis of stage four cancer. The family said he was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments and thanked his medical team, while asking for privacy. Keegan enjoyed an illustrious playing career with Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle, winning three league titles, the European Cup, two UEFA Cups and the FA Cup with Liverpool and the Bundesliga with Hamburg. He won back-to-back Ballons d'Or in 1978 and 1979 and scored 21 goals in 63 games for England between 1972 and 1982. Keegan later managed Newcastle United, Fulham, England from February 1999 to October 2000, and Manchester City, and he is credited as the mastermind behind Newcastle's 1996 "Entertainers" side. England will celebrate Keegan's life at Wembley when they host Spain in a UEFA Nations League match on 26 September, and clubs including Newcastle, Liverpool and Hamburg have issued tributes praising his impact and legacy.

The Anfield Wrap

@theanfieldwrap.bsky.social

Everyone at The Anfield Wrap are deeply saddened to hear of the news that Liverpool Legend Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. You'll Never Walk Alone.

56317h ago

Andrew Dickson5

I’m heartbroken. The man that made me fall in love with football.

jonquillucy.bsky.social4

Awfully sad news - some hit you hard. This one has. RIP Kev. x

Radz3

Very sad news, my first real sporting hero, was gutted as a 12 year old when he left the reds, proper role model and sporting great…..

Nick O’D3

That’s very sad news. A hero and a legend and his photo had pride of place on my bedroom wall in the 1970s and beyond. God rest his soul. 🙏

Pete Omo2

My first hero. RIP Kevin.

snowyd70.bsky.social2

My first ever football hero. I remember crying when we sold him to Hamburg. RIP Kevin Keegan 💔

Quoting this

Anna Walsh20

Very sad news. May the road rise up to meet him.

Andrew Dickson7

Oh no. Just heartbroken to learn of the passing of my very first footballing hero. Rest In Peace you legend. #KevinKeegan

Paul Dutton5

Oh man sad news to wake up to a legend has gone. 🙏🏿

Carlton Boyce3

It's not an exaggeration to say my eight-year-old heart was broken when Kevin Keegan left Liverpool for Hamburg. And never let it be forgotten that Mighty Mouse remains the only person ever to break the Laws of Mathematics by literally giving it 110% in the TV show Superstars. #RIPKevinKeegan

Ben2

Wasn't old enough to see him play, but have seen clips. Witnessed his management though, in the league and at national level - always came across as a man with a huge passion for the game, and someone who enjoyed it too. RIP Kevin Keegan

Michael Martin

@tfmick1892.bsky.social

Absolutely devastating news that Kevin Keegan has passed away. Simply the greatest person involved with #NUFC in my lifetime. God bless the Keegan family and thank you for sharing him with us. We loved him.

16917h ago

terrytibbs08.bsky.social9

The man who saved & built the modern day #NUFC without him as a player & then manager i dread to think on where we would be. RIP the King, KK.

Sharpie3

Great years. I’m jealous of the generation of supporters 10 or so years older than me who went to home and away games when he played and when he managed and what that experience must have been like. Amazing.

petershearer.bsky.social2

Definitely the best thing to ever happen to us. I wouldn't swap those yeasrs for anything.

unknownjohnny.bsky.social2

The worst of news, my hero.He will aways be in my heart.

No Homer’s we’re allowed 12

Absolutely heartbreaking RIP King Kevin

Timbleshanks1

No KK, no Shearer, no Robson, no Champions League, no Club. Simple as that. Always loved, never forgotten. RIP King.

Stephen McGann

@stephenmcgann.uk

The first footballing superstar I watched from the terraces. Shankly's new team. The start of it all. Perms for men included.

17517h ago

Chris2

I know it's silly but it just doesn't seem possible for Keegan to die.

Paul Sherratt1

Knew he was very special when as a Port Vale fan I went to the away match at Scunthorpe He demolished us

Quoting this

Ms Anfield Park2

So sad. My brother Steve also watched from the terraces, for me cheering the coach as it passed my school was as good as it got, until he & Heighway made a surprise visit to Butlins (!) when I was there on holiday aged c12/13, we talked football & table tennis. A wonderful player and a lovely man.

Haven Tenerife2

This just doesn't seem possible somehow. Talk about the end of an era. God speed Kevin, there are probably far more people to mark and mourn your passing than you could ever have imagined. Superstar you were. 🖤

Ian Murphy2

Watching Keegan and Toshack was a formative LFC memory for me. One of the greats. #YNWA

Andrew Beasley

@andrewbeasleyfootball.com

It’s Newcastle vs Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season. There’s been bad blood between the clubs recently. They should come together to pay tribute to Kevin Keegan. Both clubs have lost a legend. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

13517h ago

Hassinator2

oh man. very sad. Keegan is where I came in. a proper legend.

Andrew Howard1

I am sure that will be put aside as pure triviality compared to the opportunity to honour and remember our shared legend. RIP KK

Quoting this

Jaq W13

Sad news. A memory I posted in June.

퓨̸크̸ Games 'n Junk - Puke9

Kevin Keegan was one of the first to sign his name to a football game, being the focus of Kevin Keegan's Player Manager on SNES in 1993. It's certainly impressive to get a manager game on the console, despite serious limitations, which is paired with the Kick Off series of football action #chosting

The Independent

@the-independent.com

BREAKING | Kevin Keegan, former England manager, has died at the age of 75 Read more: trib.al/wE3bbSz

6717h ago

Thalia ⭐🔫🧑⚔️5

Waited till after the world cup finished. Talk about fidelity to your sport of choice.

John4

My boyhood hero. Cried as a ten year old when he left Liverpool for Hamburg and I’m crying now😢

normpang1

RIP Mighty Mouse! 😓 #YNWA

Tallboy Jimbo1

Ah man, he was a good un

Andy Gait1

Sad news. Always loved watching him when I was kid. 😢

Fred Fredson1

Don't seem so long ago he was wearing a England shirt. Rip Kevin Keegan, a school boy hero to many my age.

Quoting this

Dave Andress46

Dear me, it's a sickly season this year...

𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔫𝔢𝔱𝔰 🧲35

ah this sucks. one of the proper characters of british football. RIP

Fergus McKee13

Beyond all the fully deserved plaudits Keegan is getting, I think one of the most telling things is the number of people called Kevin because their dad insisted on naming their son after Kevin Keegan because he was the best footballer going, which tells a story in itself. RIP Kevin.

SMD13

What a legend, rest in peace

assbutt10

RIP to a Liverpool legend 🫡

ScouseLakes9

Ah no. Really sad news.

Shane7

This has made me very sad. The dignity at the end of his England reign lives long in the memory and his Newcastle team really were a big spring board to the rock and roll Premier league. As a player I’ve heard he was also mercurial but before my time. RIP Kevin Keegan

Martyn Brunt6

I remember being 6 or 7 years old and going to watch my team Coventry City play Liverpool at Highfield Road, and there being palpable excitement among the crowd that Kevin Keegan was playing. Probably the first superstar footballer of my generation.

Matt Speight - Now Entering Gluttony Month.6

He’s been presented as a figure of fun in the last few years, but I sincerely hope he is rightly remembered as the iconic figure in English sport that he is.

bwildered2 🚩6

This is completely and utterly unacceptable. How very sad.

Joel Morris

@gralefrit.bsky.social

RIP Kevin Keegan, the footballer that I used to think was probably also in The Professionals.

10517h ago

Meryl O'Rourke2

He was just "THE 70s" wannee?

Julian Power 🖋️📖1

I’m now imagining Keegan, wearing a tracksuit (obvs) crashing a racing bicycle over the bonnet of a Ford Capri.

Paul Gall1

No you're thinking of Alan Handsome

Tim White

@twmcltd.bsky.social

The first football shirt I ever had was a Liverpool No.7 (in the days before names were on shirts) RIP King Kevin #Keegan

9117h ago

eaglecanfly.bsky.social2

No finer shirt could you have chosen, Tim.

Mark Carruthers

@markcarruthers.bsky.social

Absolutely devastating news about Kevin Keegan’s passing. He is and always will be a true Newcastle United legend. His impact on the football club and the city as a whole can never be underestimated or forgotten. One of the most important figures in the club’s history 🖤🤍🖤🤍 #NUFC

5418h ago

Duke

@silverduke.bsky.social

Oh ffs, Kevin Keegan has died. RIP Kev. YNWA 💔💔💔 #lfc #ynwa

4817h ago

Straight Shootin' LJA1

His Newcastle team were amazing, to the point they were my second team during his tenure, I used to do the Asprilla celebration in the playground 🤣⚽

Harbourmaster Productions

@harbourmasterrr.bsky.social

Kevin Keegan is undoubtedly the reason I and a whole, innumerable host of us love football and love #nufc. Absolutely gutted today. Legend. Hero. Inspiration. And *so* much more. No tribute will ever be enough to thank him.

5117h ago

Billy Bell

@billybell99.bsky.social

Oh man, awful awful news about the great Kevin Keegan. The most important #nufc person in the history of my life as a fan. RIP

4817h ago

Quoting this

Phil Harrison23

Really sad news. Superb player, nice fella. *I would have loved it* if he could have got Newcastle over the line in 1996.

Will

@willwagon.bsky.social

I have two brothers One named after Jimmy Case The other named after Kevin Keegan RIP Mighty Mouse Thank you for the memories YNWA ❤️

3417h ago

City Tactics

@city-tactics.bsky.social

RIP Kevin Keegan. Sad news, a legend of the game and his first season at City is still some of the best football I’ve seen us play.

3217h ago

Quoting this

City Tactics13

From a mate, can’t really get better than leaving this sort of impression on people. One of the good guys by all accounts.

Graeme Swanson

@swansonian.bsky.social

For many people my age not into football Kevin Keegan was the only British player they could name. He was the face of football. He was still pretty much the only player I could think of until the mid 90s.

2417h ago

Quoting this