Joseph Kevin Keegan (14 February 1951 โ 20 July 2026) was an English footballer and manager. Nicknamed “King Kev” or “Mighty Mouse”, Keegan was recognised for his dribbling ability, finishing and presence in the air.
โฝ Playing Career
Keegan began his playing career at Scunthorpe United in 1968, before Bill Shankly signed him for Liverpool. There, he won three First Division titles, the UEFA Cup twice, the FA Cup and, in his final season, the European Cup. He moved to Hamburger SV in the summer of 1977 and was named European Footballer of the Year in both 1978 and 1979.
Hamburg won the Bundesliga title in the 1978โ79 season and reached the 1980 European Cup final. Keegan left Hamburg and played at Southampton for two seasons, before transferring to Newcastle United in the Second Division in 1982. He helped Newcastle secure promotion in his second season, and retired from playing in 1984.
๐ Managerial Career
He moved into management at Newcastle in 1992, and the team won promotion to the Premier League as First Division champions in his first full season. Newcastle finished second in the Premier League in the 1995โ96 season, despite leading the way for most of the campaign. After managing Fulham for two seasons, he took charge of the England national team in February 1999, but resigned in October 2000 following a 1โ0 loss against Germany in qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
In 2001, he became manager of Manchester City for four years, until he resigned in 2005. Keegan had been out of football for almost three years when he returned to Newcastle for a second spell as manager in January 2008, but this lasted only eight months, as he resigned in September following speculation about a dispute with the club’s directors.
๐ถ Early Life and Family
Joseph Kevin Keegan was born on 14 February 1951 at his aunt Nellie’s house in Elm Place in Armthorpe. He was the second of three children of Joe and Doris Keegan. His father, a Geordie, had moved to Armthorpe, in Doncaster to work in a colliery, where he met and married Doris.
Keegan’s paternal ancestors arrived in Newcastle from Ireland. In 1909, his grandfather Frank, an inspector, heroically saved lives in the West Stanley Pit disaster. His father Joe and uncle Frank were Newcastle United supporters, describing their favourite players as Hughie Gallacher and Jackie Milburn.
โก Youth and Early Career
Keegan was given his first football by his uncle and his first pair of football boots by his father after he won betting on horses. As a boy, he supported Doncaster Rovers. As a schoolboy, Keegan had a trial for Coventry City under manager Jimmy Hill, but the club did not offer him a contract.
At age 15, Keegan and two friends completed a 50-mile run from Nottingham to Doncaster. He left school with O Levels in History and Art. At the age of 15, Keegan started working at Pegler Brass Works as an office clerk, though he said he was more of a tea boy and messenger than a clerk.
๐ Scunthorpe United and Liverpool
His chance at professional football came when he was playing Sunday morning league football for the Lonsdale Hotel in a match against Woodfield Social in 1966. This trial led to Scunthorpe manager Ron Ashman giving Keegan his first contract in professional football. Scunthorpe United could not afford a set of football nets and trained on a rugby pitch at Quibell Park.
In 1971, Keegan attracted the attention of Liverpool’s head scout Geoff Twentyman. After Twentyman’s recommendation, Liverpool made an offer for Keegan which Scunthorpe accepted. After the negotiation, 20-year-old Keegan was transferred to Liverpool for a fee of ยฃ33,000. Liverpool bought Keegan as a midfielder, but Shankly soon decided to move Keegan up front alongside John Toshack.
| Category | Detail | Category | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 14 February 1951 | Died | 20 July 2026 |
| Nicknames | “King Kev” or “Mighty Mouse” | Playing Position | Forward/Midfielder |
| Clubs Played For | Scunthorpe, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, Newcastle | Managerial Clubs | Newcastle, Fulham, England, Manchester City |
| Major Honours | European Cup, 3 First Divisions, UEFA Cup, FA Cup, Bundesliga | Individual Awards | European Footballer of the Year 1978, 1979 |