Tributes have been paid to former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan, who is being remembered for his significant contributions to football as both a player and a manager.
Keegan enjoyed a stellar playing career, featuring for clubs including Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, and Newcastle. During his six-year spell at Liverpool from 1971 to 1977, he secured three league titles, the European Cup, two UEFA Cups, and the FA Cup. He also helped Hamburg win the Bundesliga and earned back-to-back Ballons d'Or in 1978 and 1979, making him one of only four English players to have achieved this honor.
As a manager, Keegan managed Fulham and Manchester City, in addition to the England national team and Newcastle United. In 1996, he signed Alan Shearer for Newcastle for a then-world record fee of £15 million. He also managed England during the period when Shearer captained the national side.
Alan Shearer described Keegan as "my friend. A man everyone loved. For his passion. For his energy but most of all for his friendship. He loved football and he loved Newcastle more than anything." He added, "I'm so honoured to have known him. We will miss you Kevin."
Newcastle United's current manager, Eddie Howe, who connected with Keegan upon his appointment in 2021, stated, "Kevin was an inspiration to me as a young player and, I'm honoured to say, a friend whose guidance and support meant a great deal in recent years." Howe noted Keegan's "incredible warmth and generosity" and his immediate welcome upon Howe's arrival at the club. "Kevin understood better than most the privilege and responsibility of leading Newcastle United. He was always willing to share his wisdom, offer encouragement and provide support, and I will always be grateful for that."
Former Scotland and Liverpool forward Sir Kenny Dalglish recalled Keegan as "one of the very best players of his generation" who "wore Liverpool's famous number seven shirt with great distinction." Dalglish, who succeeded Keegan at Liverpool and later at Newcastle, added, "His achievements on the pitch were exceptional, but he was also a wonderful person and genuine gentleman." He remarked that Keegan "gave so many people wonderful memories and his teams played the game in a way that supporters loved to watch." Sir Kenny concluded, "Football has lost one of its true greats."
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also paid tribute to his former rival, stating that Keegan "carried the love of the game on his sleeve."