From the cowshed to the head - Kevin Keegan; one of the best 7s. of the LFC
His nickname "Mighty Mouse" goes back to Keegan's height. At just 1.70 meters, the center forward was one of the smaller ones on the pitch, but playfully overshadowed almost all of them.
Keegan's professional career began in 1968. He came from Scunthorpe United's youth and joined the LFC in 1971. In six years he became a superstar and fan favorite. He was instrumental in the successful 1970s.
Kevin Keegan - one of the LFC's top 7s He was one of the best 7s that our club has ever played. In the picture below I have numbered 14 players who played with the number 7. Do you still recognize them all and what do you think was the Red’s best 7s?
His greatest successes as a player:
- European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1977 (CL) • UEFA Cup: 1973, 1976 • English championship: 1973, 1976, 1977 • English Cup: 1974 • Charity Shield: 1974, 1976 • German champion: 1979 • European Footballer of the Year: 1978, 1979 (he was the only English player to succeed twice) • England's Footballer of the Year: 1976 (journalists' choice), 1982 (player's choice) • Onze d’or: 1977, 1979
In the season 77/78 Kevin was looking for a new challenge. His move to HSV was taken from him badly. He fell from grace. In the 70th era, you didn't leave Liverpool just like that. He was simply ahead of the times. Kevin was a world star, goalscorer, dress man, pop singer, advertising icon and the first British football millionaire. Today, such changes of superstars have become completely normal.
A world star on the Elbe.
Keegan moved to HSV for 2.3 million Deutschmarks. Bundesliga record. Top teams like Juventus Turin, Real Madrid or FC Barcelona also wanted to buy the world star, but Kevin moved to Hamburg.
The first season at HSV was a lost year. You only finished tenth. At that time, Hamburg got a new manager. Gunther Netzer - one of the best midfielders of his time. Keegan, like it was his direct way, said to him: So that you know, I want to get out of here. Netzer got a new coach: Branko Zebec. He let Keegan play like he was used to in Liverpool. That worke.
In the 1978/1979 season "Mighty Mouse" really turned up at HSV. Keegan has no fixed position behind, in front of and between the tips and confronts his opponents with insoluble problems. In 1979 he played football at the pace of 2000 and scored 17 goals for HSV in the German championship. It's the first in 19 years. During this time, an unusually large number of newborns were named Kevin, due to his popularity. The following year, Hamburg moved into the final of the National Champion Cup against Nottingham Forest (0: 1). In 1980, after three years, he left the club.
Kevin Keegan - pop star
In the summer of 79 (not 69 😄) Keegan had a completely different, unusual success. Mighty Mouse made it into the charts as a pop star. His single "Head Over Heels In Love" landed at number ten in the German and number 31 in the English charts. Chris Norman and Pete Spencer from the band Smokie wrote and produced the song for him. Its funny.
The end of his career
With the Saints and the Magpies "King Kev" now scored his goals. In the 1981/82 season he was the top scorer in the PL. He later hired as a coach at Newcastle. He helped the then second division club to rise and was also successful in the Premier League. In the 1995/96 season, the "Magpies" just missed the championship title as league runner-up against Utd. Keegan's sensational team was already twelve points ahead in January. He also led the then third division Fulham and ManC in the second division to the championship.
His short time as England coach from February 1999 to October 2000 was unsuccessful. At the EM, the "Three Lions" failed in the group stage. In the World Cup qualification, Keegan's team lost the last game in the old Wembley Stadium against Germany 1-0 - and the coach resigned shortly after the final whistle.
Some of you will still know him, I wanted to introduce Mighty Mouse to the younger Reds fans too, because he decisively shaped a great era of the LFC in the 70s and became the LFC's first world star. I saw him in 1979 in Cologne vs HSV 0-6. I was twelve years. It was the first time that I watched a match live in a stadium. All I can say is: if Kevin played these days, I would put him on a par with Messi.
Today "the unsung hero" Kevin Keegan lives withdrawn. He celebrated his 70th birthday this year.
Enjoy it and remember the era that shaped the spirit of Anfield. Your Mel - LFC fan since 1975
Comments
Showing the biography of a super stat like Kevin Keegan is worth learning from. Above all it reminds the new generations that they are entitled to hold that heritage and big history of the club written and achieved by super stars on the pitch and off the pitch. It’s a big responsibility for every new generation to keep it up and build on it.
True words mate, without this generation Anfield wouldn't have the magic that the whole world has in its heart including the anthem YNWA that has been copied many times and every fan knows. I hope to have made some young people think about it with this blog.
Toshak n Keegan brilliant partnership YNWA
Yes, not only on the pitch but also off it as the deadly duo Batman and Robin 😁👍
Yes a Donny lad come good YNWA KK