Joseph Kevin Keegan, an iconic figure in English football known as 'Mighty Mouse' or 'King Kev,' has passed away at the age of 75 following treatment for stage four cancer. Born in Armthorpe, South Yorkshire, on February 14, 1951, his father Joe was a miner and a staunch Newcastle fan. Despite suffering from bronchitis as a child, with parents told he would never be able to play sport, Keegan attended St Peter’s School in Cantley. He played rugby and captained the school cricket team but left with only two O-Levels in art and history. After being rejected by Coventry for being too small, he worked at Peglers Brass Works in Doncaster during the 1966 World Cup. His performances for the Lonsdale Hotel pub team led to a trial at Scunthorpe, where he signed apprentice forms at 17.
Keegan joined Liverpool in May 1971. He scored his first of a century of goals for the Reds just 12 minutes into his debut. Alongside John Toshack, he helped Bill Shankly’s side win the 1972-73 league title and the UEFA Cup. He scored twice in the 1974 FA Cup final, a 3-0 win over Newcastle. During the 1974 Charity Shield at Wembley against Brian Clough’s Leeds, Keegan was punched by Johnny Giles and dismissed following a brawl with Billy Bremner, resulting in a £500 fine and a two-month ban from the Football Association. He won further league titles in 1975-76 and 1976-77, and a second UEFA Cup in 1976. His 323rd and final Liverpool appearance was the 1977 European Cup final victory against Borussia Monchengladbach in Rome.
Moving to Hamburg, Keegan became the only British player to win the Ballon d'Or twice, in 1978 and 1979. He helped Hamburg win a domestic title and reach the 1980 European Cup final. After his England debut in 1972, he earned 63 caps and scored 21 goals, eventually playing in the 1982 World Cup. He returned to England with Southampton, winning PFA Player of the Year in 1981-82, before joining Newcastle. He helped them reach the top flight in 1984 and retired after a benefit match against Liverpool, where he famously left the pitch in a helicopter. In 1991, he was brutally assaulted and robbed while sleeping in his car after a drive from Spain, suffering a head wound that required eight stitches.
Keegan became Newcastle manager in 1992. With the signing of Andy Cole, he led the team to promotion as Division One champions and a third-place finish in the Premier League. In January 1995, Cole was sold to rivals Manchester United, a decision Keegan had to defend to fans. With new signings David Ginola and Les Ferdinand, Newcastle led the league by 12 points in January 1996. Following a 1-0 win at Leeds, Keegan delivered his famous "I will love it if we beat them" rant in response to Sir Alex Ferguson. Newcastle finished second that season. After the world-record £15 million signing of Alan Shearer, Keegan resigned in January 1997.
He later managed Fulham to a Division Two title and served as England manager for 20 months, resigning after a defeat to Germany at Wembley in 2000. He managed Manchester City to a Division One title in 2001 and returned to Newcastle in 2008. His second spell ended in resignation following tensions with owner Mike Ashley, leading to a successful £2 million constructive dismissal claim. Keegan remained largely out of the spotlight in his later years.
