What Kevin Keegan meant to Liverpool, Hamburg, Newcastle, Southampton, England, Man City and Fulham | OneFootball

Kevin Keegan, who died on Monday aged 75, was mourned across football for the joy he brought to so many clubs. According to NY Times, tributes arrived from teams he served as a player and manager.

Signed by Bill Shankly from Scunthorpe in 1971 for £33,000, he scored on his Liverpool debut in a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest. Converted into a striker alongside John Toshack, he helped win the league and UEFA Cup in 1972-73, plus the FA Cup in 1974. He added another league and UEFA Cup double in 1975-76, then departed in 1977 after three titles and the club’s first European Cup, with 100 goals in 323 games.

At Hamburg from 1977 to 1980, he scored 40 in 113 matches and, with Horst Hrubesch, delivered the 1979 Bundesliga. The following season brought a European Cup final defeat to Nottingham Forest. He won back-to-back Ballons d’Or in 1978 and 1979 after a £500,000 move that doubled the German record.

In February 1980 he stunned the game by joining Southampton as England captain and reigning Ballon d’Or holder. Across two seasons he lifted them to sixth and Europe, winning the 1982 Golden Boot. He embodied attacking intent.

He chose second-tier Newcastle in 1982, scored on debut against Queens Park Rangers and inspired promotion in 1984 with Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle. As manager from 1992, he saved them, surged into the Premier League and turned “The Entertainers” into title challengers in 1995-96, before resigning in January 1997. A brief 2008 return ended amid friction with ownership.

Fulham appointed him in 1997, investment followed, and a vibrant side won the 1998-99 Second Division with a club-record 101 points. After initially combining roles, he left in May 1999 to take England full-time.

For England he won 63 caps, 31 as captain, but major tournaments frustrated him, notably a back injury at the 1982 World Cup. As manager from 1999 he qualified for Euro 2000, then resigned in 2000 after defeat by Germany.

At Manchester City he revived a relegated side with expansive football, signing Eyal Berkovic and Ali Benarbia behind Shaun Goater and Darren Huckerby, with Shaun Wright-Phillips wide. City stormed to 99 points and 108 goals, then finished ninth after adding Nicolas Anelka. Later reliance on veterans slowed progress, and he left in 2005.

Source: NY Times