Kevin Keegan, whose death at the age of 75 was announced yesterday, was more than a very fine footballer and decent manager. He was also a symbol of the changing face of football in the 70s and 80s when players became superstars on and off the field.
As a player he was peerless. Signed by Liverpool from Scunthorpe, this son of a miner went on to win trophy after trophy for them including the club’s first European Cup in 1977, three league titles and domestic cup triumphs.
As players became bigger and tougher, he was the template for those that followed, such as Maradona and Messi, in showing you didn’t have to be a giant to be a star
Liverpool were undoubtedly the best team in England during that period and Keegan was their best player. Just five foot eight inches tall, he was nicknamed Mighty Mouse. Yet he survived ferocious tackles and even had a punch up with Leeds United’s Billy Bremner in a famous scrap on the hallowed Wembley turf during a Charity Shield match.
As players became bigger and tougher, he was the template for those that followed, such as Maradona and Messi, in showing you didn’t have to be a giant to be a star. If his England career had been as successful as his club career he would be up there with the greats. But he was part of England sides that failed to qualify for the World Cups in 1974 and 1978 and never troubled the semi-final stages when they did get through.
His career saw him break the mould in a number of ways, not least by leaving Liverpool for a career with Hamburg in Germany where he won two European Player of the Year awards, the forerunner for the Ballon D’Or when the gong was given for talent rather than reputation.
He learned German, helped Hamburg win the title for the first time since 1960 but, as with the Bremner incident, saw red during one game where he punched Lubeck defender Erhard Press in the face, knocking him out and receiving an eight week ban.
Away from the pitch, Keegan took advantage of his stardom and the fact that he could be funny, charming and, crucially, good in front of a camera.
He took part in the BBC series Superstars where sportsmen competed against each other in a variety of events – Keegan’s most famous moment being when he crashed dramatically in a cycle race. He sported a bubble perm, released a pop single that saw him appear on Top of the Pops and became the face of Brut aftershave.
For a time he was probably the most recognisable footballer in England – like George Best before him but without the baggage of alcohol and Miss World conquests. Instead, he was a clean-cut boy and a marketing dream, though he missed out on a deal to wear white football boots after his captain, Tommy Smith, said he’d look stupid in them. After Keegan agreed, he turned up to the next game to find Smith wearing the white boots himself, telling Keegan: ‘Can’t turn down £1,500.’
His eventually turned out for Southampton and Newcastle where he ended his playing career – allegedly he decided he’d had enough after being beaten to the ball by Mark Lawrenson. Keegan ‘retired’ to set up businesses in Marbella but in 1992 was persuaded to come back to manage Newcastle, then in the second division.
He got them promoted, signed high profile and expensive players and, in the 95-96 season, looked set to win the Premier League title. This sparked perhaps the most famous televised moment of his career – his hysterical rant against Manchester United in which he raged: ‘I will love it if we beat them, love it.’ Needless to say, United won the title.
In between managing Fulham and Manchester City, he was one of many to fail at managing the national team, getting knocked out of the Euro 2000 competition at the group stage and then resigning in the toilets after losing at home to Germany in England’s final game at the old Wembley.
Without wishing to sound like Ron Manager with his ‘jumpers for goalposts’ nostalgia, Keegan was a player both of his time but also a sign of what was to come. A working-class boy, plucked from the lower leagues to become a star on the pitch and an icon of it.
Those of us lucky enough to be of a generation who saw him play live, rather than just on TV highlights, knew he was combative but skilful, a nuisance for opposition players (and supporters) but appreciated. Famous enough to be recognised by non-football fans off the pitch, he played because he loved it and quit when he realised he didn’t anymore. It would be a shame if he was to be remembered for his failings rather than his successes.
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