Keegan Joseph Kevin - one of the most striking football players in England. In terms of technical specifications, Kevin Keegan was second only to George Best, who was also Irish and not English. He acted as a striker. He was a trainer in a number of English teams, as well as the national team. At the moment, Kevin Keegan has moved away from football.
First steps
A football player was born on February 14, 1951. Kevin Keegan, whose rating impresses the minds of fans, was born in the town of Armthorpe, which is located near Doncaster (England). Kevin's father and grandfather are miners. Little Kevin Keegan began playing football on the St. Petersburg School team. The boy was not tall, according to many, he should not have had a great football future. At first, Kevin Keegan was determined to be the goalkeeper. However, soon a guy came to the team who really liked to play in the goal, and Keegan went on the attack.
Playing football with Kevin was much better than learning. He spent all his free time in his favorite pastime. Even after graduation, he did not stop playing football. While working as an apprentice at a trading company in Doncaster, English football player Kevin Keegan played for a variety of teams in which he was glad to see him. Playing in the attack, he loved to deliver accurate shots on goal, which he did well.
Scunthorpe United
Kevin Keegan, a football player with tremendous football skills, managed to attract the attention of the club’s management, who played in the fourth most powerful English league. The coach, who saw the undoubted talent in the young man, invited him to his place. Keegan trained with great dedication and soon managed to break into the reserve staff. Kevin Keegan is a football player who gave himself completely to the game, thanks to which he gained the coaching staff’s location. Already being a famous football player, Kevin said that it was at that moment that he decided to struggle to break through to the top of English football. In the spring of 1968, he played his first professional match, and in December signed a new contract. Kevin Keegan, whose statistics attracted the attention of many famous clubs, began to receive the first proposals for the transition.
Transition
Excellent performance, the young football player has become the goal of many clubs. Ahead of all was Liverpool. The then coach of the “Reds” (William Shankly) had a terrific flair for young talented players. Many experts consider the invitation of Keegan the best acquisition in the biography of the coach. Coventry was also interested in Kevin Keegan. The club coach invited him to watch, but experts decided that he was not suitable for the team.
The full potential of the player could consider only the leadership of “Liverpool”. After watching a few minutes of his game with Scantrop United, all doubts were dispelled.
"Liverpool"
The Liverpool proposal was admired by Kevin Keegan. The coach of the “Reds”, talking with the player, realized that this is exactly the player that the team needs. In May 1971, Keegan made the transition to the camp of Liverpool for 35 thousand pounds. At that time, the attacker was 20 years old. However, Keegan's transfer did not go quite smoothly. “Skantrop” was not eager to part with his best player, in addition, the leadership understood that other grandees would join in the fight for the football player.
Debut and first matches
Keegan played his first game against the Nottingham Forest. Already in the seventh minute of the match, he opened the scoring goals and surprised many Liverpool fans. Already in the first eight matches of the season, Keegan was able to differ seven times, and fans realized that a new star had appeared in the camp of the “Reds".
Despite the amazing results, the attacker had the first problem - leg pain. The head coach, accepting the player’s complaints as a simulation, ordered him to stop salivating. At that moment, Keegan wanted to leave the team. To help the player came Bob Paisley, who examined his leg and came to the conclusion that the cause of the pain is the gas pedal, which has sharp edges. After this incident, Keegan forgot about health problems for a year and a half.
The Irreplaceable Keegan
For a fairly short period, striker Kevin Keegan became an indispensable player in the attacking line. The three Toshak-Kigan-Highway entered the field in almost every match and showed amazing results. However, the first season in the ranks of “Liverpool” did not bring Keegan high titles and awards. The club flew out of the cups and managed to take only the third line in the league. That season was remembered by the fans of one of the most intense interchanges. Until the last round, the Reds retained a chance for the championship. In the last game they needed to beat Arsenal. “Liver” stubbornly attacked, but the ball players were able to push only offside.
Before the start of the next season, the head coach strengthened the roster with a new defensive midfielder. Liverpool was ready to smash everyone. However, the national cups were again lost. Nevertheless, the team managed to take the seventh championship, as well as the UEFA Cup. Kevin Keegan, whose height was ideal, helped his team beat Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Bad season
The next season for Keegan and Liverpool turned out to be less successful. The club sadly lost in the final of the European Cup “Zverne Zvezda”. In the league with the “Reds” also things were not going the best way. The start of the season was just disgusting, but later the team managed to slightly improve their position. At the end of the season, fans were waiting for an explosion from Liverpool, but this did not happen. The championship was won by Leeds. The team managed to shine only in the FA Cup and finally win this title. The reason for such an unsuccessful season can be called the unstable game of many key players, including Keegan, who got into a fight at the Belgrade airport.
Shankly Care
Fans of “Liverpool”, one might say, idolized Bill Shankly, but suddenly he announced his retirement from the post of head coach. This statement shocked many fans, as well as players. Shankly's place was taken by Bob Paisley, who did not see himself in the role of head coach. They persuaded everyone to sign the contract, including Keegan. Paisley cast aside doubts and assumed the post of coach. He soon surpassed Shankly. Kevin Keegan at that time began a black streak.
In the match for the country's Super Bowl, which was held before the start of the new season, Kevin Keegan started a fight with the Leeds player. Both players were removed and received 11 disqualification matches. During this period, Keegan was very hard. “Liverpool”, even without Keegan, played well enough and even won many games. Paisley introduced a number of changes, but this did not help the club win titles. “Reds” flew out of the cups, and in the championship settled on the second line.
New victories
British coach Kevin Keegan, who is famous for many as a mentor, began the new season with great hopes. Liverpool were able to repeat the achievements of 1973 - the championship and the UEFA Cup. It is worth noting that in the fight for the European Cup “Red” in the semi-final opposed formidable “Barcelona”. However, the Spaniards were defeated, and Kevin Keegan made an important contribution.
Soon something happened that simply shocked the leadership of Liverpool and the fans. Kevin Keegan demanded to put him on a transfer. The reason for this could be the desire of a football player to receive a higher salary. However, a quick transition did not happen, and Keegan spent another season in the camp of “Liverpool”. During this period, he helped the team once again become champions, as well as win the UEFA Cup.
Hamburg
In 1977, Kevin Keegan joined the camp of the German team. Here he encountered new difficulties, namely: a tougher game, hard training and so on. The Englishman scored his first goal in a friendly game against Liverpool. However, in the championship of Germany, Kevin could not immediately prove himself. Many team leaders simply ignored the legionnaire. A huge role in the adaptation of the football player to the new conditions was played by the club's mentor. After some time, Keegan became the leading player in the team, as well as the top scorer.
Quite a lot of proposals for the transition Keegan received from England, but refused to return.
Southampton and Newcastle United
In 1980, Kevin Keegan accepted the offer from Southampton. The attacker managed to spend two good seasons, but many have already attributed him to veterans (in addition, the player was harassed by injury).
Soon Keegan went to play in “Newcastle”, which at that time was in the second division. The attacker was immediately accepted and handed a captain's armband. For two years, Keegan helped the team return to the football elite. This achievement can be considered an excellent retirement (one year in Malaysia does not count).
The next few years, Keegan earned money on television, as well as in advertising. Return to football happened in 1992. Kevin Keegan accepted the offer to lead Newcastle United.