Newcastle and England legend Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75 after a short battle with illness.

Keegan was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer in January, having been admitted to hospital with abdominal problems.

In a statement, his family said: ‘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 battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments.

‘Kevin, a double Ballon d’Or winner, was a much loved husband, father and grandfather. The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support.

‘This is a hugely difficult time and they are requesting space and privacy.’

Keegan leaves behind his wife, Jean, and their two daughters. Keegan met Jean on the Waltzers at Doncaster fair in 1970. They married four years later and had two daughters. 

Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75 after a short battle with illness

Former England manager Keegan was diagnosed with stomach cancer in January this year

Keegan was a formidable footballer and twice won the Ballon d’Or – football’s most prestigious individual prize – during his career

He won 63 caps for England and scored 21 goals across his 10-year international career

As a Liverpool player, Keegan delivered European glory for the Anfield club in 1977

Keegan posing during a photoshoot while at the peak of his footballing powers. He was renowned for his ‘poodle perm’ hair in the 1970s

Keegan pictured with his wife Jean, who was by his side when he died on Monday

Keegan at Buckingham Palace with his wife Jean and daughter Laura after being awarded an OBE in 1982

Keegan was admitted to hospital due to ‘ongoing abdominal symptoms’, a statement from his family said in January.

‘These investigations have revealed a diagnosis of cancer, for which Kevin will undergo treatment,’ it added.

However, he looked sprightly when he returned to public life in May. Keegan told an audience in Newcastle that he was responding well to treatment after being assured ‘we have a top doctor with this new way of fighting what you have got’.

‘He [the doctor] was a Liverpool supporter, so I went to meet him. I knew I wouldn’t be walking alone, if you know what I mean.’

Keegan began his playing career at Scunthorpe in 1968, before moving to Liverpool to play for Bill Shankly three years later.

Keegan negotiated a contract worth £50 a week – Shankly had originally offered him £45.

It marked the beginning of a glorious playing career where he won 63 caps for England – captaining the Three Lions on 31 occasions.

The attacker won the First Division three times, the European Cup once and the UEFA Cup twice during a six-year stint at Liverpool.

After retiring from football in 1985, Keegan turned to management and was at the helm of his beloved Newcastle United for five years (pictured with Ant and Dec in 1995)

His ‘I would love it’ meltdown saw Newcastle’s Premier League title charge fall aprt

Keegan also managed England but handed in his resignation in the Wembley tunnel

He then moved to Germany to play for Hamburg and was named European Footballer of the Year in both 1978 and 1979. He added to the trophy cabinet in Germany, too, winning the Bundesliga and reaching the 1980 European Cup final.

Doncaster-born Keegan returned home after three years in Germany and spent time at Southampton and Newcastle – who he would later go on to manage. He rounded off his playing days with two appearances for Australian semi-professional side Blacktown City.

Keegan scored 204 goals in 592 career appearances across six clubs in a stellar career. 

Alongside being iconic on the pitch, he produced his fair share of legendary moments off it too.

While Newcastle boss in 1996, Keegan launched a tirade on Manchester United during the heat of the Premier League title race.

Newcastle had let a 12-point lead slip at the top of the table with United moving six points clear after beating 10-man Leeds United 1-0 in April 1996.

Leeds played the majority of the game with defender Lucas Radebe in goal, which prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to question the Yorkshire side’s integrity and whether they would show the same grit against Keegan’s Newcastle.

Newcastle responded by beating Leeds 1-0 to move three points behind Man Utd with a match in hand, and only two left to play.

But Keegan let the pressure of the title race get to him in his post-match interview, accusing United of being ‘slanderous’ and screaming ‘I will love it if we beat them, love it’. 

His managerial career produced its fair share of bizarre moments. 

In 1999 Keegan succeeded Glenn Hoddle as England boss but resigned in 2000 following a disappointing European Championship and a loss to Germany in the final match at the old Wembley.

After a year and eight months as England manager, Keegan famously resigned in the tunnel at the old Wembley after a drab 1-0 defeat to Germany in October 2000. 

Following a brutal reception from the England fans, he told his players in the dressing room that he was stepping down before confirming his resignation to FA director David Davies in a nearby stadium toilet cubicle. 

He guided Newcastle to the Football League First Division title during the first of two stints at St James’ Park and came close to lifting the Premier League, only to be pipped by Manchester United.

He would go on to oversee promotions to the top flight for both Fulham and City.