Tributes have been paid to former Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan ahead of Newcastle United's match with Liverpool at St James' Park. Keegan, an icon of both clubs, died last month.
Keegan passed away at the age of 75, having first revealed he was battling stage four cancer diagnosis back earlier in the year. An outpouring of grief followed across the football world for the ex-England manager.
Keegan's Manchester City legacy
Keegan succeeded Joe Royle at Manchester City in 2001 after the club had been relegated from the Premier League. He guided City back into the division and signed the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Marc-Vivien Foe for the club, keeping the side in the top flight before eventually agreeing to leave as manager in 2005.
But he lay most in the hearts of fans at Newcastle United, where he made his first foray into management and guided a side labelled as 'the Entertainers' in the 1990s. Keegan achieved some of his biggest successes with Liverpool, where he won the European Cup, two UEFA Cups and three first division titles as a player.
Poignant pre-match tributes
The two clubs came together ahead of their opening Premier League match to have a poignant moment ahead of kick-off. Wreaths were laid by Bobby Moncur, Ian Rush, Shola Ameobi and Sir Kenny Dalglish in Newcastle's memorial gardens, while players warmed up in number seven shirts.
The centre circle also played host to a mosaic of 500 shirts laid by supporters outside of St James' Park. Keegan's family also composed an emotional letter for Newcastle's matchday programme.
Family's emotional letter
"Dear Newcastle United fans and the incredible city of Newcastle," it read. "The past couple of weeks have been some of the hardest that our family has endured, saying goodbye to our husband, father, and grandfather, Kevin."
"Despite living outside of the region, your love and warmth from the North East has reached our hearts and filled us with so much comfort during these difficult days. The empathy, compassion and warmth of this extraordinary club and community have shone through; the outpouring of love has been truly overwhelming."
"Having seen the tributes outside St. James’ Park, members of our family came home to Newcastle to see the memorials in person. The sea of black and white shirts and scarves, alongside colours from so many other clubs, reminded us how much Kevin meant to the footballing world. It was a sombre moment that reminded us of our pain and loss, yet matched with immense pride and love as we read so many personal and heartfelt messages."
"Kevin always shared his love for Newcastle United, Geordies, and the city, captivating us with stories told with his infectious smile. Seeing these tributes brought those stories to life for Kevin’s grandchildren, showing them how deeply their grandfather was loved in return. It also allowed us a quiet moment to reflect on many fond memories of Kevin’s incredible career and the incomparable bond he shared with Newcastle."
"Your football club, city, and community show a passion that truly embodied Kevin as a footballer, manager, and family man. We will be eternally grateful for the adoration and strength you have given our family when we needed it most."
"Newcastle, thank you for your love."
