Kevin Keegan, the former England player and manager whose remarkable career began in Lincolnshire with Scunthorpe United, has died at the age of 75.
Keegan’s family confirmed that the two-time Ballon d’Or winner had passed away following a battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his wife and daughters during his final moments.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75.
“The former England player and manager had been battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments.
“Kevin, a double Ballon d’Or winner, was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support. This is a hugely difficult time and they are requesting space and privacy.”
Keegan’s family revealed in January that he had been diagnosed with cancer after being admitted to hospital with ongoing abdominal symptoms. He later confirmed that the illness was stage four and that he had begun receiving treatment.
Kevin Keegan Career
Born in Armthorpe, near Doncaster, Keegan started his professional career with Scunthorpe in 1968. He made 124 league appearances and scored 18 goals for the Iron before Liverpool manager Bill Shankly took him to Anfield for £33,000 in 1971. That move began one of the most distinguished careers in English football. Keegan won three First Division titles, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup and the European Cup during his six years with Liverpool.
He left England to join Hamburg in 1977 and was named European Footballer of the Year, the award now known as the Ballon d’Or, in both 1978 and 1979. He also helped Hamburg win the Bundesliga and reach the 1980 European Cup final. Spells with Southampton and Newcastle United followed, with Keegan helping the latter win promotion from the Second Division before retiring in 1984. He scored 204 league goals during his club career and also registered 21 goals in 63 appearances for England.
Keegan returned to Newcastle as manager in February 1992, despite having no previous coaching experience. He saved the club from relegation before leading them into the newly formed Premier League during his first full season. It was here that Lincoln City fans first witnessed the character of the man: when he signed Darren Huckerby, he promised to bring a full-strength team to Sincil Bank for a friendly game.
Days before that game, Newcastle signed Alan Shearer for a world record fee of £15m. Shearer could have debuted against Manchester United in the Charity Shield, but, true to his word, he brought his full-strength side to the Bank, Shearer included. The eyes of the world dropped on the Bank, all because Keegan kept his word.
His attacking Newcastle side became one of the defining teams of the 1990s and finished second in the Premier League in 1995/96. They had led Manchester United by 12 points during the campaign before eventually missing out on the title by four. Keegan later managed Fulham and guided them to promotion, which is where I encountered him first. He was their manager when City faced them in the third tier, and he was a proper gent from start to finish. He signed autographs for kids before the game, literally, as the players were out for the warm-up, and he stuck around after, doing much the same.
He took charge of England in 1999 and led the national team at Euro 2000, but resigned following a 1-0 defeat against Germany in the final match played at the old Wembley Stadium. That took him back to club management, and another promotion followed during his time with Manchester City, who won the First Division title in 2001/02.
In 2003/04, he promised to bring a strong Manchester City side to Sincil Bank for a friendly, and unlike most top-flight clubs who would maybe bring one or two stars, he kept his word yet again. Sylvian Distin, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Robbie Fowler, Nicolas Anelka, Joey Barton, Richard Dunne and Paul Wanchope were among those who played in the 2-2 draw, with 6,500 being the biggest gate we’d see until February 7th 2004.
Few figures have enjoyed a connection with supporters, or an understanding of what football means to people, quite like Keegan. His enthusiasm, emotion and commitment made him an enduring favourite at several of the clubs he represented, while his achievements established him as one of England’s greatest footballers.
Normally, we wouldn’t take the time to do an article on a non-Lincoln City figure, but given how he always seemed to be eager to help the Imps, it felt right.
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