Former England manager and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Keegan dies aged 75

Kevin Keegan, who was a striker for Liverpool, Newcastle and England, was diagnosed with signifier 4 crab past year.

Kevin Keegan, the erstwhile Liverpool, Newcastle and England striker and manager has died aged 75 aft battling cancer, his household has announced.

Regarded arsenic 1 the top players of his procreation – and two-time victor of the Ballon d’Or prize for planetary subordinate of the twelvemonth successful 1978 and 1979 – was diagnosed with signifier 4 crab and underwent attraction successful January.

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“It is with immense sadness that we denote that Kevin Keegan has passed distant astatine the property of 75,” a connection from Keegan’s household connected Monday said.

He was surrounded by his woman and daughters successful his last moments, the connection said.

The iconic erstwhile England subordinate and manager – was a dynamic striker nicknamed “mighty mouse”, winning the English apical formation rubric 4 times with Liverpool, earlier joining German nine Hamburg successful 1977.

He returned to England to play for Southampton and Newcastle United, earlier turning to management.

He led Newcastle to promotion to the Premier League successful 1993 and established them arsenic a unit successful the apical flight, dubbed “the entertainers” arsenic they finished runners-up to Manchester United successful 1996.

Keegan went connected to negociate Fulham earlier taking complaint of England from 1999 to 2000.

He besides spent 4 years arsenic Manchester City manager earlier finishing his managerial vocation with a little instrumentality to Newcastle successful 2008.

“Kevin, a treble Ballon d’Or winner, was a overmuch loved husband, begetter and grandfather. The household would similar to convey Kevin’s unthinkable aesculapian squad for each their support,” the connection added.

“This is simply a hugely hard clip and they are requesting abstraction and privacy.”

‘True elephantine of our history’

Tributes are pouring successful for Keegan, who Newcastle United described arsenic their “beating heart” for helping alteration perceptions of what the squad could be.

“As a manager, helium ignited our city. Kevin gave supporters anticipation and pride, and led a squad whose style, tone and passionateness captured the imaginativeness of shot fans astir the world,” the Premier League nine said successful a connection connected Monday.

“Above each that, Kevin forged an bonzer enslaved with Newcastle, built connected the roots of his father, Joe. He understood our people. He embraced the North East with a passionateness that was genuine and unwavering, and successful return, helium earned his rightful spot successful the hearts of millions.

“Kevin’s interaction volition not beryllium measured by appearances oregon results. It volition unrecorded connected successful the memories helium created with nine and country, the dreams helium inspired wherever helium went, and the generations of supporters astir the satellite who fell successful emotion with shot due to the fact that of him.

“Our ‘Mighty Mouse’, his bequest astatine Liverpool volition beryllium everlastingly etched successful history,” said a connection honouring his storied vocation astatine Anfield that saw him assistance their archetypal European Cup.

The nine shared an excerpt from Keegan’s comments made successful 2011: “Liverpool made me, not conscionable arsenic a footballer but arsenic a person.

“The radical I met – Shanks, Tommy Smith, Ian Callaghan, Ron Yeats – each these radical you instrumentality thing from.

“The fans made me. When they started singing my name… what americium I, 5 ft 7 with Cuban-heeled boots? But [because of them] I was six ft six.”

Manchester City paid homage to Keegan for making them a apical Premier League broadside arsenic a “transformative manager who brought optimism and vibrancy” to the club.

Southampton remembered him for the “great joyousness [he brought] to fans astatine The Dell and crossed the shot world” erstwhile helium signed with them successful 1980, helium was the holder of the Ballon d’Or. Premier League broadside Tottenham Hotspur besides honoured him arsenic “one of the all-time greats of our game.”

“A fable of the English game, Keegan volition beryllium remembered by generations of shot fans for his interaction arsenic a subordinate and manager,” the English Football League said successful a statement.

Former Liverpool prima Jamie Carragher said Keegan’s drawstring of accolades proved helium was “an implicit elephantine of the English game.

“One of the astir important men successful making [Liverpool FC what it is today,” Carragher said successful a station connected X.