Former England captain and manager, two-time Ballon d'Or winner Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The death of the English football legend was announced on Monday by his former club Newcastle United. In January, Keegan's family and the club revealed that he was undergoing treatment for cancer, without disclosing details. In June, Keegan himself said he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer.
"We are devastated by the news of Kevin Keegan's death — one of the most iconic, influential and beloved figures in our club's history. As a player, he brought world-class talent, ambition and belief to Newcastle. As a manager, he breathed new life into our city, giving fans hope and pride," the club said in a statement.
Kevin Keegan is regarded as one of the brightest figures in English football history. As a striker, he achieved great success with Liverpool, winning numerous trophies, before continuing his career with German club Hamburg. For his outstanding performances, he won the Ballon d'Or twice in a row, in 1978 and 1979.
Keegan played for England from 1972 to 1982, earning 63 caps, scoring 21 goals, and captaining the national team 31 times.
After retiring as a player, he became a manager. Under his leadership, Newcastle United came close to winning the English league in the mid-1990s, and later Keegan managed the England national team.
According to his family, his wife and daughters were by his side in his final moments. His death is a great loss to English football, where Keegan left a bright legacy as an outstanding player, manager, and one of the most charismatic figures of his generation.