Kevin Keegan, the former Liverpool and Newcastle United striker and two-time Ballon d'Or winner, has died at the age of 75, prompting tributes from across the football world. Mirror chief sports writer Andy Dunn remembers him as an irrepressible character who was a joy to be around.
An Irrepressible Character
In Dunn's memory, no character in football has been as irrepressible as Keegan. He was infectious, funny, passionate, and never took himself too seriously. Considering he twice won the Ballon d'Or, this humility deserved the highest praise. As a player, Keegan was truly elite, but his contribution to football has been slightly under-appreciated.
Keegan should have been a national treasure. For his achievements as a player and his warmth and generosity, he would have been knighted nowadays. To many, he was already a national treasure and an Anfield treasure, even though his place in Liverpool's history books is nuanced.
Liverpool Greatness and Hamburg Success
Keegan is one of Liverpool's greatest-ever players, but he left the club of his own accord in 1977 to join SV Hamburg for a new challenge and a lucrative payday. During his time at Anfield, he collected three league titles, two UEFA Cups, an FA Cup, and a European Cup, delivering defining individual performances.
One such performance was in the 1977 European Cup final, where he destroyed Berti Vogts—acknowledged as one of the world's best defenders—in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Vogts later paid tribute to the 'Machtig Maus' (Magic Mouse). Another great display came in the 1974 FA Cup final against his beloved Newcastle United, when he scored twice in a 3-0 victory for Bill Shankly's side.
Ballon d'Or Dominance
Keegan won the Ballon d'Or in 1978 and 1979 while playing in Germany. Over half a decade, he was the Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo of his time, but incredibly down to earth. He always had amusing tales to tell journalists when the notepads were away, such as the time he was almost late for his Liverpool debut because a police officer did not recognise the new £33,000 signing outside Anfield. He also laughed about falling off his bike on the TV programme Superstars.
England Management and the 'I'll Love It' Rant
Relations with the media became strained during Euro 2000 when his relaxed regime at the squad's base in Belgium came under scrutiny, and England failed to make it out of the group stage. But Keegan never held fierce criticism against them. He gave the media a truly memorable moment with his 'I'll Love It' rant at Sir Alex Ferguson in 1996 as his Newcastle United team surrendered a 12-point lead in the title race.
Later generations of fans remember Keegan as much for that rant as for his brilliance on and off the field. As Newcastle manager, he moulded one of the most entertaining English club sides of recent decades.
A Bygone Era
Keegan was a player and manager who belonged to a bygone age when football seemed a lot more fun. Ahead of a schoolboy cup final, Dunn felt compelled to get a curly perm after seeing Keegan on Top of the Pops a few days earlier. Keegan's song 'Head Over Heels' reached number 31 in the charts, but for some time in English football, King Kev was number one. He will be greatly missed.
