Kevin Keegan was a dynamic English forward whose energy and ambition carried him to the very top of European football. At Liverpool he formed the spearhead of a side that swept domestic and continental honours, before a bold move to Hamburg brought further success in Germany.
Twice crowned Europe’s finest with the Ballon d’Or, he was a relentless, buzzing presence, quick and brave, who maximised every ounce of his ability. He later became a talismanic figure at Newcastle United, whom he served as both player and, famously, as an attacking-minded manager.
Popular and driven, he embodied a certain romantic energy in the English game, and his willingness to test himself abroad marked him out among his contemporaries.