Kevin Keegan, a significant figure in Newcastle United‘s history, passed away at the age of 75. His career with the club included periods as both a player and a manager, leaving a lasting impression on Tyneside.
As a player, Keegan’s final appearance in professional football was for Newcastle United on 17 May 1984. Following a friendly match against Liverpool, a helicopter transported him from St James’ Park, an event witnessed by 36,000 home fans.
Managerial stints and memorable moments
Keegan’s managerial career at Newcastle was marked by his attacking philosophy, often alongside his former teammate Terry McDermott. He initially faced disagreements with chairman Sir John Hall regarding transfer funds, famously stating, “It’s not like the brochure.” These issues were resolved, and the team soon progressed.
After helping Newcastle avoid relegation to the third tier, Keegan guided them to promotion to the Premier League. In the 1993-94 season, they finished behind champions Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers, with significant contributions from strikers Andy Cole and Peter Beardsley.
A notable moment occurred in January 1995 when Andy Cole was sold to Manchester United. Keegan addressed unhappy fans from the steps outside St James’ Park to explain the decision. The 1995-96 Premier League season represented both a high point and a major disappointment for Keegan’s Newcastle side. Strengthened by players like Les Ferdinand and David Ginola, they established a 12-point lead in the title race, which they ultimately lost to Manchester United.
During this period, Keegan famously reacted to comments from Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Ferguson had questioned the effort of other teams against Newcastle compared to their matches against Manchester United. Following a victory at Elland Road, Keegan’s impassioned response included the line, “I will love it if we beat them. Love it.” Despite his declaration, Newcastle did not secure the title.
Some observers felt that Newcastle‘s campaign never fully recovered from this setback. However, Keegan’s influence was instrumental in convincing Alan Shearer to join Newcastle for a reported £15m from Blackburn, rejecting Manchester United in the process. Shearer’s debut resulted in a 4-0 loss to Manchester United in the Charity Shield, though Newcastle later achieved a 5-0 victory against them in the Premier League two months later.
Keegan’s first managerial spell at Newcastle concluded on 8 January 1997, when he resigned, stating, “I feel I have taken the club as far as I can.”
Return to Tyneside and later career
Tyneside experienced renewed excitement when Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley announced Keegan’s return as manager in January 2008. This second period was short-lived, with Keegan resigning after only eight months due to disagreements with Ashley and the club’s hierarchy, which included executive director and former England player Dennis Wise.
Beyond Newcastle, Keegan also managed Fulham, England, and Manchester City. His tenure as England manager lasted less than two years, ending after a 1-0 defeat by Germany, when he acknowledged he had “come up short.”
Born in Armthorpe, near Doncaster, Keegan’s grandfather, Frank Keegan, had moved from Ireland to Tyneside and was involved in rescue efforts during the 1909 West Stanley pit explosion. His father, Joe Keegan, was a fan of Newcastle United and shared stories of club heroes with his son.
Keegan’s early football career began with an apprenticeship at Scunthorpe United in 1968 at the age of 16. He later joined Liverpool for a fee of £33,000, making his debut in September 1971 and scoring the opening goal in a 3-1 home win against Nottingham Forest.
During his time at Liverpool, he scored 68 goals in 230 league appearances. He won his first league title with Liverpool and a UEFA Cup final against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the following season. He scored twice in a 3-0 FA Cup final win against Newcastle United a year later. Another UEFA Cup victory came against FC Bruges in 1974-75. His peak at Liverpool was in 1976-77, scoring 20 goals as they won the league title again before defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach in the European Cup final.
Keegan was also an avid racing fan and co-owned the dual Ayr Gold Cup winner Funfair Wane with his wife, Jean, who bred the horse. Funfair Wane won its first Ayr Gold Cup in 2002 and regained the title two years later.
Source: bbc.co.uk