Kevin Keegan, one of England's greatest footballers and one of the country's most charismatic managers, has died at the age of 75, his family have announced. A two-time Ballon d'Or winner, Keegan enjoyed a glittering playing career with Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle United before later managing Newcastle, Fulham, England and Manchester City. His family said in a statement: "It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75." The former England player and manager had been diagnosed with cancer.
At international level, Keegan earned 63 caps, scored 21 goals, and captained his country, embodying the heart and pride of the national side throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
Returning to Newcastle United as manager in 1992, having completely cut himself off from football for seven years, he saved the club from relegation to the third tier on the final day of the 1991/92 season before assembling his famous "Entertainers" team at St James’ Park. Keegan demanded total commitment to attacking football from his players, reminding them regularly that supporters spending hard-earned money on match tickets deserved to be entertained by what they saw. He brought Newcastle to the brink of the Premier League title in 1995-96 (it would've been their first top-flight title win since 1927), famously blowing a 12-point lead to Manchester United that culminated in his famous “Love It” interview live on SkySports as the title slid out of his grasp. Speaking to FourFourTwo years later he said “I don’t regret it even now.”