Former England captain and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75

Kevin Keegan (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File) Kevin Keegan, one of English football’s most iconic figures, has died aged 75 after battling stage four cancer.The news was confirmed by Newcastle United, the club where Keegan became a legend as a player and manager. Last month, Keegan publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer.“One of the most iconic, influential and beloved figures in our club’s history,” Newcastle paid tribute.A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, Keegan enjoyed a glittering playing career that saw him captain England, win the European Cup with Liverpool and become one of only four Englishmen to win football’s most prestigious individual honour.In addition to his achievements on the field, Keegan became a cultural icon in the 1970s. His signature permed hairstyle inspired footballers across Europe, while his celebrity status extended into television, music and advertising. He released the single “Head Over Heels in Love”, appeared in an aftershave commercial alongside the great heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper and made regular appearances on television.Keegan was also among the first major English footballers to move abroad when he left Liverpool for German club Hamburger SV in 1977 after winning the European Cup.“For Hamburg fans, he will remain above all a crowd favourite, an exceptional player and one of the best footballers ever to wear the diamond (coat of arms) on his chest,” the Bundesliga club said.His move to Germany proved to be very successful. Keegan won the Ballon d’Or in 1978 and 1979 with Hamburg and helped the club lift the Bundesliga title in 1979 before reaching the 1980 European Cup final where they were beaten by Nottingham Forest.“Hamburger SV will always honor the memory of its former player, championship winner and two-time Ballon d’Or winner,” added the German club.Born in Doncaster on 14 February 1951, Keegan began his professional career with Scunthorpe before joining Liverpool in 1971. Under legendary manager Bill Shankly, he formed a prolific strike partnership with John Toshack, helping the Reds secure a league and UEFA Cup double in 1973.During his six-year stay at Anfield, Keegan won three league titles, the FA Cup, two UEFA Cups and the club’s first European Cup in 1977. In that final against Borussia Monchengladbach, he won a penalty which Phil Neal converted in a 3–1 victory for Liverpool.“His legacy at Liverpool will forever go down in history,” the club said. “He was considered a hero wherever he went.After returning to England from Germany, Keegan joined Southampton where he finished top scorer in the First Division with 30 goals in the 1981–82 season before moving to Newcastle United, a club he supported through his father.His relentless work rate and infectious personality quickly made him a fan favorite at St James’ Park before he retired in 1984. He briefly returned to action the following year, making two guest appearances in Blacktown, Australia.On the international stage, Keegan scored 21 goals in 63 games for England. He captained the national team at Euro 1980 and represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, his only appearance at football’s biggest tournament after England failed to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 editions.Keegan later enjoyed a memorable managerial career that spanned from 1992 to 2008. His greatest success was at Newcastle, where he guided the League Two club to the brink of the Premier League title in the 1995-96 season.The campaign was made famous by both Newcastle’s attacking football, which earned them the nickname “The Entertainers”, and Keegan’s emotional televised outburst aimed at Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.“You can tell him now, we’re still fighting for this title. And he’s got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. And I’ll tell you…honestly…I’ll be happy if we beat them, I love it,” said Keegan.Despite leading the table by 12 points in February, Newcastle eventually finished four points behind Ferguson’s Manchester United.Keegan also managed Fulham, England and Manchester City. His spell as England manager lasted from 1999 to 2000 and ended with a 1-0 defeat to Germany in a World Cup qualifier at the old Wembley Stadium. He famously informed football association officials of his resignation during an emotional conversation inside a toilet cubicle.He returned for a second spell at Newcastle in 2008, but resigned after nine months following a breakdown in his relationship with club owner Mike Ashley. He never returned to management, instead remaining involved in football through a TV pundit.Keegan leaves a lasting legacy as one of England’s finest footballers, a pioneering Ballon d’Or winner, an unforgettable manager and one of the sport’s most charismatic figures.