We are saddened to learn about the passing of former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan, who has died at the age of 75.
A popular figure in the English game, Keegan won 63 caps and scored 21 goals for the Three Lions as a player before he managed the team between February 1999 and October 2000.
A full tribute to his life and legacy will be paid at Wembley when England play Spain in September.
Born in Armthorpe, near Doncaster, Keegan was a whole-hearted centre forward who enjoyed a stellar career both at home and abroad as a player after starting out as a youngster with Scunthorpe United.
After making over a century of appearances for the Iron over three seasons, he joined Liverpool in 1971 at the age of 20, initially as a midfielder.
After seeing Keegan in training with the Reds, Liverpool manager Bill Shankly switched Keegan from midfield to forward and his career began to take off, forming a striker partnership with John Toshack.
On the international front, Keegan had played for the men’s U23s initially in 1972 before he made his senior debut in November of that year when he played in a World Cup qualifying game with Wales. It was also against Wales that he scored his first goal too, albeit in May 1974.
Keegan took over as England captain in 1976 and led his country in the UEFA European Championship Finals of 1980 in Italy and the FIFA World Cup 1982 in Spain, although his tournament appearances were limited as the Three Lions failed to reach both the 1974 and 1978 World Cups.
His first major domestic honour came when Liverpool won the old First Division title in 1973 along with the UEFA Cup, and his first FA Cup title came the following year in 1974.
Keegan went on to win three league titles, two FA Cups, two UEFA Cups and the European Cup in his time at Anfield, before he made the switch to Germany to play with Hamburg in 1977. A Bundesliga title came in 1979, as well as his second Ballon d’Or award following his first in 1978.
He return to England in 1980 to play for Southampton for two seasons, before he headed to the north-east and Newcastle United where he finished his career with a goal-laden spell of 48 goals in 78 appearances.
And it would be at St. James’ Park where his managerial career began, taking over in 1992 and quickly exciting the supporters with his attacking brand of football which saw the Magpies promoted into the Premier League in 1993.
They quickly established themselves in the top flight by finishing third in 1994, and built again the following season to became title challengers during the 1995-96 campaign when they ran Manchester United close throughout before the title eventually headed to Old Trafford on the final day of the season.
He left Newcastle in early 1997, before making a surprise return in a new executive role at Fulham later that year before he eventually took over as manager at Craven Cottage in 1998 and led them to promotion from the old Second Division the following year.
Before that season was finished, Keegan was appointed as manager of England in February 1999 following the departure of Glenn Hoddle. He picked up the qualifying campaign for the UEFA EURO 2000, with a 3-1 win over Poland in his first game.
A two-legged play-off to reach the EURO Finals followed against Scotland, with England winning by 2-1 on aggregate to seal their place at the tournament in the Netherlands and Belgium the following summer.
Unfortunately, despite a 1-0 victory over Germany in the group stage, two 3-2 defeats to Portugal and Romania meant England missed out on the knockout stages.
After starting the new World Cup 2002 qualifying campaign, Keegan resigned from his role after a 1-0 defeat to Germany, in what was the final match at the old Wembley Stadium in October 2000.
He returned to management with Manchester City in 2001 and enjoyed a four-year spell with the Sky Blues, leading them to promotion into the Premier League while also moving from Maine Road to their current home at the Etihad Stadium, thus setting the foundations for what they would ultimately go on to achieve in the subsequent years.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of Kevin’s passing," said FA CEO, Mark Bullingham. "He was a truly iconic figure within the English game and beyond.
“As a player and a manager, Kevin represented the Three Lions 91 times and was without doubt one of this country’s most recognisable footballing figures. He wore the England badge with pride, both on and off the pitch.
“Our deepest condolences are with Kevin’s family and friends, as well as with the clubs he represented both in England and overseas. We will pay a full tribute to his memory at England’s game against Spain later this year."
All of our thoughts are with Kevin’s family and friends at this time and a full tribute to his life and legacy will be paid when England play Spain at Wembley in September.
