Newcastle and Liverpool came together to pay an emotional tribute to the late Kevin Keegan ahead of their Premier League clash at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies fans held up a mosaic in Keegan’s memory ahead of kick-off as there was a minute’s silence in memory of the legendary striker who is adored by both clubs.
Keegan passed away aged 75 last month after a battle with stomach cancer. He left behind his wife of 51 years, Jean and their two daughters Laura Jane, 47, and Sarah Marie, 43.
Both the Newcastle and Liverpool players could be seen sporting ‘Keegan 7’ shirts in the warm-up ahead of the match.
Fans waved flags adorning Keegan’s name, with one from the travelling supporters reading: ‘Keegan is the greatest that Shankly ever found.’
The former England international, who won back-to-back Ballon d’Ors in 1978 and 1979, is renowned for his playing careers at both Newcastle and Liverpool, as well as his managerial stints on Tyneside.
Keegan made his name at Liverpool in a glittering playing career, winning three First Division titles, a European Cup and two UEFA Cups while donning the famous red jersey. He also won 63 England caps, scoring 21 times for his country.
Newcastle and Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan passed away aged 75 last month
Fans of both Liverpool and Newcastle United remembered Kevin Keegan on Sunday
Fans of both clubs paid tribute to Keegan ahead of their Premier League clash on Sunday
He guided Newcastle to the Premier League during the first of two stints at St James’ Park and famously came close to lifting the title, only to be pipped by Manchester United.
Ahead of the big Premier League clash on Sunday, Magpies centre-back Dan Burn opened up about meeting ‘King Kev’ just months before his death.
‘[I was] very sad that that happened, very sad for his family and his wife Jean,’ Burn said. ‘I went down to see him at the end of May; he invited us down to go down and have lunch with him, so it was amazing to meet him. He was a great person.
‘I think people say don’t meet your heroes, but he was just such a great guy. He was wanting to know about me and my family, just full of stories and a great person to be around, so it was a shock when that happened in the summer.
‘So, I know that it’s going to be an amazing occasion for both the Newcastle and the Liverpool fans, and hopefully us as a club will not celebrate that, but do it properly and hopefully give them something for the club to remember them by.’
Keegan began his playing career at Scunthorpe in 1968, before moving to Liverpool to play for Bill Shankly three years later. He negotiated a contract worth £50 a week – Shankly had originally offered him £45.
Liverpool wore Keegan’s name and number on the back of their warm-up shirts
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.
After three years in Germany, Doncaster-born Keegan returned home 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.
Between his two stints at Newcastle, Keegan also managed England – for just a solitary year – Manchester City and Fulham.
