Kevin Keegan, one of the most iconic figures in English football, has died at the age of 75. The former striker, who twice won the Ballon d’Or and was captain and coach of the England team, lost his life after a fight against late-stage cancer, according to his family.
Newcastle, the club where he shone as a player and then as a coach, confirmed the news on Monday. He described him as “one of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club’s history”.
Keegan transcended the sport with his charisma and style. Not only was he a brilliant soccer player—agile, with a nose for goals and a work ethic forged in his working-class origins—but he also set trends off the field: he released a musical single, appeared in advertisements and participated in television shows.
Career full of titles
Born in Doncaster on February 14, 1951, Keegan started out at Scunthorpe before joining Liverpool in 1971. Under the management of Bill Shankly, he formed a lethal partnership with John Toshack. With the Reds he won two English leagues, an English Cup, two UEFA Cups and the European Cup in 1977. His former club highlighted: “His legacy will be recorded forever.”
In 1977 he made the jump to Hamburg, becoming the highest paid footballer in Europe. There he won the Ballon d’Or in 1978 and 1979, and played in another European Cup final in 1980. The German club remembered him as “a favorite of the stands and one of the best footballers who have ever worn our badge.”
He returned to England with Southampton, where he was the league’s top scorer in 1981-82 with 30 goals, and then to Newcastle, his father’s team, where he retired as a player.
Stage as coach
As a coach, Keegan spent 16 years leading various teams. His most memorable spell was at Newcastle, which he led to a memorable runners-up finish in the Premier League in 1995-96. He also managed the English team between 1999 and 2000, with irregular results that included a resignation after losing to Germany at the old Wembley.
With the English team he played 63 games and scored 21 goals. He participated in the 1982 World Cup, his only World Cup event. Keegan, nicknamed “Mighty Mouse” for his height of 1.73 meters, was one of only four Englishmen to win the Ballon d’Or. His death leaves a void in world football.




