Kevin Keegan

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Lore & Background

Keegan began his playing career at Scunthorpe United in 1968, before Bill Shankly signed him for Liverpool. There, he won three First Division titles, the UEFA Cup twice, the FA Cup and, in his final season, the European Cup. During this period, he was a regular member of the England national team, and captained the team on 31 occasions, including at UEFA Euro 1980. He moved to Hamburger SV in the summer of 1977 and was named European Footballer of the Year in both 1978 and 1979. Hamburg won the Bundesliga title in the 1978–79 season and reached the 1980 European Cup final. Keegan left Hamburg and played at Southampton for two seasons, before transferring to Newcastle United in the Second Division in 1982. He helped Newcastle secure promotion in his second season, and retired from playing in 1984. He scored 204 goals in 592 appearances in his club career, adding 21 goals in 63 caps for England. He moved into management at Newcastle in 1992, and the team won promotion to the Premier League as First Division champions in his first full season. Newcastle finished second in the Premier League in the 1995–96 season, despite leading the way for most of the campaign. After managing Fulham for two seasons, he took charge of the England national team in February 1999, but resigned in October 2000 following a 1–0 loss against Germany in qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In 2001, he became manager of Manchester City for four years, until he resigned in 2005. Keegan had been out of football for almost three years when he returned to Newcastle for a second spell as manager in January 2008, but this lasted only eight months, as he resigned in September following speculation about a dispute with the club's directors. The three clubs he managed were promoted as champions in his first full season in charge of them.

In Their Own Story

The transfer deal itself was dramatic. Before the journey from Scunthorpe to Liverpool, Keegan's father warned him not to sell himself cheap. In the negotiations, Keegan secured a contract of £50 a week, upping Shankly's original offer of £45. Manager Ron Ashman, who drove Keegan on the four-hour trip back to Scunthorpe after the deal was agreed, was initially 'aghast' at these tactics and critical of Keegan's bluff that he was already earning nearly £45 a week at a Fourth Division club. Despite this friction, the move proved transformative. At Liverpool, he became a regular for England, captaining the national team 31 times, including at UEFA Euro 1980. He eventually left in the summer of 1977 to join Hamburger SV, having secured the European Cup in his final season with the Reds.

Reader's Guide

Keegan was born on 14 February 1951 in Armthorpe, Doncaster. He attended St Peter's High School in Cantley. He began his professional career at Scunthorpe United in 1968, making his debut against Peterborough United at age 17. He played 124 games for Scunthorpe, scoring 18 goals. In 1971, Liverpool signed him after a recommendation from head scout Geoff Twentyman. The transfer fee is not specified in the source. At Liverpool, he won three First Division titles, two UEFA Cups, one FA Cup, and one European Cup. He moved to Hamburger SV in summer 1977, winning the Bundesliga in 1978–79 and reaching the 1980 European Cup final. He later played for Southampton (two seasons) and Newcastle United (from 1982), helping Newcastle gain promotion in his second season before retiring in 1984. His managerial career included Newcastle (1992–1997, winning First Division promotion in first full season), Fulham (two seasons), England (February 1999 to October 2000), Manchester City (2001–2005), and a second Newcastle spell (January to September 2008).

Did You Know?

• Keegan won consecutive Ballon d'Ors in 1978 and 1979 while playing for Hamburger SV.
• He captained England on 31 occasions, including at UEFA Euro 1980.
• Keegan scored 204 goals in 592 club appearances and 21 goals in 63 England caps.
• All three clubs he managed were promoted as champions in his first full season in charge.