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Former England captain, manager and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75 following a battle with stage four cancer, his family has confirmed.
Keegan passed away seven weeks after publicly revealing his diagnosis. His family had earlier disclosed in January that he was undergoing treatment after doctors investigated ongoing abdominal symptoms.
In a statement, the family said Keegan was “surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments.”
“Kevin, a double Ballon d’Or winner, was a much loved husband, father and grandfather,” the statement read.
“The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support. This is a hugely difficult time and they are requesting space and privacy.”
Tributes pour in from football
Newcastle United led tributes to one of the club’s greatest figures, describing Keegan as “one of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club’s history.”
The club added: “Kevin was more than a legendary footballer and manager. He was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters.”
Liverpool, where Keegan won three league titles, the European Cup, two UEFA Cups and the FA Cup, said his “indomitable spirit and remarkable contribution will be forever etched in our history and his legacy will live on.”
Former Newcastle and England striker Alan Shearer, who played under Keegan for club and country, wrote: “My Hero. My manager. My friend. Sleep easy Boss.”
England and Manchester City also paid tribute to their former manager.
A remarkable football legacy
Keegan enjoyed an outstanding playing career with Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle United.
He won successive Ballon d’Or awards in 1978 and 1979 after helping Hamburg win the Bundesliga, becoming one of only four English players to receive football’s highest individual honour.
For England, he scored 21 goals in 63 appearances before later managing the national team between 1999 and 2000.
As a manager, Keegan transformed Newcastle into one of England’s most exciting teams, leading the club back to the Premier League before guiding the famous “Entertainers” side to a second-place finish in the 1995-96 season.
He also managed Fulham and Manchester City, leaving behind a legacy as one of English football’s most influential figures.