Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
After such a memorable England World Cup campaign, the news about Kevin Keegan feels particularly sad.
King Kev will go down as one of the greatest players England has ever produced and his international career - both as player and manager - was unforgettable.
Keegan was a two-time Ballon D’Or winner, a trailblazer after he joined Hamburg, hugely successful with Liverpool and Newcastle. He was a real Roy of the Rovers player who gave absolutely everything on the pitch and a household name thanks to his starring role on the 1970s TV show Superstars.
He was an icon who was back page gold because of his huge ability, his personality and he was never short of opinion which is another reason we loved him quite apart from his football ability.
There was the often forgotten bust-up with the late Sir Bobby Robson which ended his England career prematurely - and also saw him quit as a player at Newcastle aged 33.
Keegan quit as England manager in the toilets at Wembley in October 2000 after losing to Germany as he admitted he fell short of what was needed to manage his beloved country. That hurt him so much and, realistically, it scarred him because he scored 21 goals in 63 appearances for England in an international career which lasted ten years from 1972 until 1982.
Keegan deserved a better platform than England gave him. They did not qualify for the 1974 or 1978 World Cups when Keegan was among the best players in the world.
By 1982, Keegan was in his 30s but went to the World Cup even though he had a bad back. He drove from Spain to Germany in secret to get treatment with a trusted specialist. As England were chasing a game - they needed a result against Spain - they threw on Keegan and Trevor Brooking to search for a late winner. Keegan missed a header and little did he know then that would signal the end.
Keegan represented England over 60 times(Image: Peter Robinson/EMPICS Sport/PA Wire)
Keegan was dropped by Robson after he took charge - but was furious after finding out second hand from then Newcastle boss Arthur Cox who heard it on the radio.
“I’m finished with England. I’ll never kick a ball for my country again,”Keegan ranted after hearing the news. And his retirement from England duty hastened the end of his playing career.
It is a crying shame we never saw Keegan at his peak on the biggest stage because he deserved it. England will always be a source of regret.
Let’s not forget here that, after his amazing stint in charge at Newcastle and working wonders at Fulham, there was huge public clamour for him to be England boss. So the revisionism about his shortcomings - he was a motivator but a limited tactician - must be put into context. We all wanted him because we loved King Kev.
Keegan’s relationship with the press was tested particularly with England. He hated criticism. I remember seeing him for an interview during that ill-fated reign and it quickly turned into an interrogation. Him questioning me rather than the other way round.
Keegan managed England for almost two years(Image: PA)
He was angry, bitter and upset at the criticism. What did I think? Was it fair? Over the top? Say the wrong thing and the interview was not going to happen. It did go ahead because fundamentally he was a nice man. But he really cared and was so sensitive.
I remember seeing him in Doha years later. We’d watched some football. He was still wary. He’d had enough of us press lot. But we started chatting football - and he just forgot what I did.
He couldn’t help himself. If anyone shared his passion and love of the game then he’d just get carried away and lose himself all over again. We talked and talked.
That was the thing with Keegan. His love of football was pure. He was one of the most passionate people I’ve ever met. And that mix made him King Kev.
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