One of England’s most illustrious players and managers has passed away at the age of 75
We at the FWA are deeply saddened to hear that Kevin Keegan has died after a short battle with cancer. The former Scunthorpe, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle United star went on to become manager of Newcastle and England, as well as Fulham and Manchester City. “King Kev” was voted our Footballer of the Year in 1976.
Paul Hetherington, our former Chairman and now joint chief-executive, remembers him from the time when he transformed Newcastle as manager in the 1990s.
Tribute by Paul Hetherington
LEGEND. Icon. Superstar. Hero.
Take your pick – they all apply to Kevin Keegan, who has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 75.
Everyone in football will have their particular, personal memories of Keegan, who was the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1976, in his days at Liverpool, where he established himself as one of the greats of the English game.
But perhaps he’ll be best remembered for his time at Newcastle as a player and a manager, even though he also enjoyed success at Hamburg as a player, Manchester City as a manager and he also, of course, captained and managed England.
My memories are my dealings with him as a manager. I don’t know what it was like to walk in his shoes, but I do know what it was like to sit in his manager’s chair.
In my News of the World days, I went to St. James’ Park to interview his assistant and long-time friend, Terry McDermott.
Terry took me into the manager’s office and there were two seats – Terry’s and Kevin’s. He took his and told me just to sit in the boss’s chair.
Within five minutes, KK breezed into his office and his eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw where I was sitting.
But there was no rant. He didn’t turf me out of his chair. In fact he said: “Stay there. I know you are here to do a piece with Terry.”
That was Keegan. He understood the media. In fact, he was a reporter’s dream. He talked in headlines – and provided countless for our industry.
Players, managers and supporters were saddened by Keegan’s death, but so were the media.
Thanks, Kevin, for the memories – and all the captivating copy you provided for football writers.
