Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75, surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments, his family announced this week. The former Liverpool and Newcastle United legend, who had been battling stage four cancer – revealed in June after the disease was first disclosed by his family in January – leaves behind a legacy that has already prompted plans for a joint tribute between the two clubs he defined.
Newcastle United and Liverpool are in discussions to honour Keegan before their Premier League season opener at St James’ Park on Sunday, 23 August (16:30 BST). Newcastle said in a statement that they are talking to Liverpool “to ensure [Keegan’s] memory is marked fittingly before the game” and “will work closely with supporter groups… as well as the Premier League, to shape tributes”.
“Newcastle and Liverpool plan tributes after Kevin Keegan dies at 75.”
The tribute will be the culmination of a series of gestures by Newcastle across their pre-season fixtures. The men’s, women’s and under-21 sides will wear black armbands during their friendlies, while a minute’s silence will be observed before Eddie Howe’s side travel to Gateshead this Saturday. On 15 and 16 August, when Newcastle’s men face Bayer Leverkusen and then Strasbourg, his image will be displayed on the St James’ Park screens in the seventh minute – a nod to the number seven shirt he wore as a player – with supporters encouraged to join a minute’s applause. The same display will take place when the women’s team host Inter Milan on 16 August.
Newcastle said they will consult Keegan’s family on plans for a permanent tribute.
Keegan’s bond with both clubs ran deep. He spent a trophy-laden six years at Liverpool, winning three league titles, the European Cup, two Uefa Cups and the FA Cup – a competition he famously illuminated in the 1974 final, scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Newcastle. After spells at Scunthorpe United, Hamburg and Southampton, he moved to Newcastle as a player in 1982, then returned as manager in 1992, guiding them to Premier League promotion in his first season and second place in the 1995-96 campaign. He also managed Fulham, England and Manchester City.
The season opener, just weeks after his passing, will see two clubs united by his memory: one where he became a legend, the other he helped shape into a force.