Online Reporter
NEWCASTLE and Liverpool came together with a touching tribute to legendary football star Kevin Keegan.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner sadly died last month after a brave battle with stomach cancer. He had been diagnosed with stage four cancer in January after visiting the hospital for abdominal problems. He passed away surrounded by family at the age of 75, kicking off waves of tributes around the country.
And now Liverpool and the Magpies, both of whom he became a legend for in his playing days, jointly expressed their condolences ahead of their Prem opener on Sunday.
Kenny Dalglish was among the stars to lay a wreath down outside the stadium in honour of his fellow Liverpool legend.
Alan Shearer and Stuart Pearce were also spotted taking in the pre-match tributes from the stands. St James’ Park itself was filled with handouts featuring Keegan’s name and a heartfelt message from his family.
The stands were also decorated so as to feature his name when empty ahead of the match. And the matchday programme was dedicated to him, featuring a snap of him as Newcastle manager on the cover. The Keegan family released a letter to fans before the match that read: “Dear Newcastle United fans and the incredible city of Newcastle.
The past couple of weeks have been some of the hardest that our family has endured, saying goodbye to our husband, father, and grandfather, Kevin.
“Despite living outside of the region, your love and warmth from the North East has reached our hearts and filled us with so much comfort during these difficult days.
“The empathy, compassion and warmth of this extraordinary club and community have shone through; the outpouring of love has been truly overwhelming.
“Kevin always shared his love for Newcastle United, Geordies, and the city, captivating us with stories told with his infectious smile.
“Seeing these tributes brought those stories to life for Kevin’s grandchildren, showing them how deeply their grandfather was loved in return. It also allowed us a quiet moment to reflect on many fond memories of Kevin’s incredible career and the incomparable bond he shared with Newcastle.
“Your football club, city, and community show a passion that truly embodied Kevin as a footballer, manager, and family man. We will be eternally grateful for the adoration and strength you have given our family when we needed it most.”
The players of Liverpool warmed up in kits featuring Keegan’s name and number seven, and a banner featuring his song alongside the word ‘legend’ was placed on the centre circle.
That was accompanied by a tifo featuring a number of photos of Keegan throughout his career as a player and a manager, alongside the caption “King Kev.”
Fans took the opportunity to display their own banners in the stands, including an iconic quote of his. It read: “I want people to dream about their football club. They should. We should all be dreamers at heart. Some people are the opposite and say ‘we can’t do that,’ but when you ask them why, they can’t give a reason. Well I say ‘why not?’”
Manchester City also offered their condolences ahead of their Prem opener with Bournemouth at the Etihad.
Keegan managed the Citizens for four years in the early 2000s, finishing top of the second tier to earn the side promotion back to the Premier League.
Keegan made 230 league appearances for the Reds between 1971 and 1977, winning three first division titles and a European Cup.
He found himself in his native North East a few years later with Newcastle, where he would score 48 times in 78 league appearances in the early 80s.
But he is just as fondly remembered for his managerial career with the club as he is for his playing days.
Eight years after his departure as a player, Keegan returned to kick off his managerial career at St James’ Park, bringing the club back into the top tier under his watch.
There they competed against Manchester United for the Premier League title — and though Keegan never secured silverware with the club, he left a lasting legacy. —Sun.
