Football legend Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75.
The former England player and manager, who was also a star player at Liverpool, Hamburg and Newcastle, was diagnosed with stage four cancer in January.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75,” a statement from Keegan’s family read. “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.”
Most revered for his feats as a manager at Newcastle and as a player at Liverpool, Keegan forged a successful career that included three First Division titles, one FA Cup, one European Cup, and two Uefa Cups as well as two Bundesliga titles between the years of 1968 and 1984. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 1978 and 1979.
Kevin Keegan dies aged 75 – full story
It was announced in January that Keegan had been diagnosed with stage four cancer, with his family revealing he was to begin treatment.
A statement was published on behalf of the Keegan family by the Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves, confirming Keegan had passed away while surrounded by his wife and two daughters.
Full story below:
Man Utd statement
“We are profoundly saddened by the loss of Kevin Keegan.
“A giant of English football, he was a cherished figure at the very highest levels of the game.Our condolences go to Kevin’s family, loved ones and all those he inspired as a manager, player and person, on and off the pitch.
“Rest in peace, Kevin.”
Faustino Asprilla tribute
Asprilla played under Keegan at Newcastle United:
Newcastle detail St James’ Park plans + delay of club’s away kit
“We have been deeply moved by the many tributes being paid to Kevin Keegan and know that many supporters will wish to honour his memory at St. James’ Park.
“Those who would like to leave flowers, scarves or other tributes can do so at the South West Corner of the stadium. We kindly ask everyone to follow the directions of club staff when visiting.
“While we understand that many people would like to enter the stadium, we are unfortunately unable to open the stadium bowl at this time due to ongoing works taking place within the bowl and overhead.
“We appreciate your understanding as we continue to ensure the safety of everyone. We will be providing details shortly on where supporters can sign a book of condolence.
“Please also note that the scheduled launch of the club’s new away kit, due to be tomorrow, has been postponed until Friday.”
Former Newcastle striker Micky Quinn on Keegan:
“It feels me up with warmth, Kevin took it to another level, as a player and a manager, he’s the people’s champion.
“He’s been a theme throughout my life, as a Liverpool fan, I idolised him, then as a racehorse owner, I met Kevin going racing, then I worked professionally with him, he was my manager at Newcastle, then after football, we were on the dinner circuit. There would be 500 people there, he’d speak to everyone individually. He was a proper, proper fella.
“Kevin was one of the few who connected, especially with Newcastle fans, he had in abundance, passion, he gave everything. He got within a whisker of winning a Premier League, with one of the best footballing teams to not win a Premier League. He loved the fans.
“A working class connection, very few ever get that connection, that love and warmth from fans and back. They adored him.”
Hamburg statement:
“We mourn the loss of Kevin Keegan.The English football icon has passed away at the age of 75 due to the consequences of his cancer illness.
“With Kevin Keegan, world football loses one of its most defining personalities.
“We will always cherish an honorable memory of our former championship player and two-time Ballon d’Or winner.Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and all those who accompanied him on his journey. Rest in peace, ‘Mighty Mouse.’”
John Aldridge pays tribute to Liverpool icon Kevin Keegan
“We had a player before Kevin, Roger Hunt, he was a demigod at Anfield, but when he left, we waited for the big one to arrive,” John Aldridge told Sky Sports.
“I was at his first game, he played wing-back, he was unbelievable, from that game onward, he got better and better, he became iconic. It took a layer of Dalglish to take over, the pressure he gave me and kids in the Kop, I was lucky to watch Kev fro ’71 to the day he left for Hamburg, there’s a saying, ‘never meet your heroes’, I’ve been lucky enough to meet mine, he surpassed everything, an amazing bloke, to become what he was, a fantastic player, a workaholic, even in his 30s, you’re never too late to learn, I took his words, I loved Kevin Keegan, like many Liverpool supporters, it’s so sad.
“He had such a burden on the young lads, young England fans, Newcastle fans, wherever he went, he gave everything he had in his body to the club he was associated with.”
Keegan Ballon d’Or’s run
Kevin Keegan is the only English player to win the Ballon d’Or on multiple occasions, claiming the title in 1978 & 1979.
Fulham statement:
“We’re incredibly sad to hear the news that our former manager Kevin Keegan has passed away. A legend of the game, Keegan led Fulham to the Football League Second Division title in 1999.
“He left Craven Cottage at the end of that season to focus on his duties as England manager. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.”
Legendary broadcaster Martin Tyler pays tribute to Kevin Keegan
“You knew he was in the room, on the pitch, my career was empowered a bit by him. The work rate, at Scunthorpe, they have training runs, they were quite gruelling, many older players would dodge the hard work, Kevin never did that, he ran every inch of that training ground,” Tyler tells Sky Sports.
“He was always busy on the pitch and he was remarkable company. He was very lovable. To win two Ballon d’Ors, the only Englishman to have done that, it speaks for itself.
“He was quite emotional, same as a player. Sometimes it went for him, sometimes it didn’t. When he was manager of England, I said come and have a chat with me, maybe I’d wait for an hour, he signed every autograph. The story, at Scunthorpe, he was a fan, one player refused his autograph, when Kevin asked for it, he was determined to never refuse if he became a player and he never did.”