Author Topic: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero  (Read 305759 times)

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Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« on: September 7, 2008, 03:47:32 pm »
What just happened to Kevin Keegan at Newcastle should make any football lover curl his hand into a fist and throw a metaphorical punch at the pygmies who’ve taken control of the people’s game. The Geordies are furious and I don’t blame them. They love Keegan there and call him the ‘Messiah’ for reasons that are obvious to anyone who saw what he did for that club as a player and as a manager (first time round). But I don’t want to talk about that here. I want to talk about Keegan as a Liverpool hero. His greatest years, after all, were here at Anfield, wearing the best Liverpool strip of all time, performing in front of adoring supporters on the Kop. I was one of them.

Of course there’s something about Keegan that excites derision. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he appears in public with the emotional controls switched off, he still thinks the sport is more important than the business. You can see it on the RAWK thread about his resignation  – amid some genuine sorrow for the bloke is an undertow of contempt for the man’s character. But not, I guess, from anyone who actually saw him play for us. I don’t know any Red who witnessed his Liverpool heyday who has ever felt the slightest inclination to join the weary Keegan-bashing over the years.

And, yet, he’s a sort of semi-forgotten figure at Anfield. There are two reasons why he doesn’t get talked about as affectionately as other Redmen of his generation. The first is that he went on to accomplish great things with other clubs – SV Hamburg as well as the Toon – and therefore we only have shares in him and not the whole estate. We’re not used to that. When players leave us their medal-collecting days are supposed to be over. That’s how it is. But not with Keegan. The second reason is because his direct replacement was Kenny Dalglish who dignified the number 7 shirt with even greater distinction and who was the heartbeat of the club when it was permanently camped out with Zeus on Mt Olympus. I said two reasons, but there’s probably a third. He was, of course, the first of our players to make it clear he wanted to leave us (“I need a different challenge”) and some fans probably never forgave him for that. I struggled with it at the time. It seemed incredible.

But despite all that Kevin is still an authentic Liverpool hero. There’d be far less silver in our trophy room if the intrepid Shanks hadn’t trawled the outer-galaxy of the 4th division and brought this meteor to Anfield. In his days here he helped make Liverpool FC the most talked about club in Europe – for all the right reasons. 

There’s a received wisdom about Keegan that he was not a particularly talented player and that “he made the most of what he had”. Kevin himself contributed to the myth with a few characteristically self-effacing comments of his own. But believe me, that’s lazy journalistic bullshit. Kopites of a certain generation will remember a supremely gifted natural talent. His problem was that he broke conventional expectations about what special talent was supposed to do. Skilful players in the ‘70s were typecast as lazy or at least languid. And these were compliments (“the fella has lazy skills”). Frankie Worthington, Alan Hudson, Duncan MacKenzie, Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh – these were the skilful players who didn’t sweat. But Keegan didn’t fit that mould. He fizzed and spun and harried and fought. He also trained hard and maintained a high level of fitness throughout the season. That much was clear when, in his most notorious moment as a footballer, Keegan stripped down to the waist after being sent off during the Charity Shied match v Leeds. Billy Bremner, who inadvisably followed the example, looked like Mr Blobby in comparison. And Keegan did sweat. That was because he was an artist who cared. He had superb skills, including one of the nastiest turns in world football which relied on courage, balance and an exquisite touch from the outside of his right boot. He was also one of those precious few forwards who see gaping holes and wide-open vistas where ordinary mortals only see dense thickets of bodies and legs. A deft touch, a gorgeous flick from Keegan and a colleague was in. This was ‘insp’ as well as ‘persp’– the best combination. A Liverpool combination. But it was a combination that threw British football pundits at the time. There was no mystery about Keegan on the continent – which is why foreign coaches honoured him as European Footballer of the Year twice in a row. But, over here, with the historic class division between thinkers and doers, artistes and beasts of burden, Keegan was misunderstood. A man that was both? Nah, doesn’t exist! Let’s call him a ‘trier’ instead.   

Did anyone make that mistake at Liverpool? I wasn’t aware of it. Shanks in his autobiography said “I don’t like to distinguish between the players I had”, before singing the praises – as only Bill could – of the great Liverpool footballers who came under his tutelage. But after doing this he wrote: “Kevin heads the list”. The astonishing rise from 4th to 1st division and the immediate, awesome, impact he made in his first season at Anfield – Shanks was in no doubt that Keegan was the player who ignited his second all-conquering team. “He brought it to life with awareness and skill. He was the inspiration of the new team”. If I was Kevin I’d read that line from the Master every night to know I’d made sense of my life.  This, of course, was the team that won the club its first European honours (Keegan twice v BMG in ’73 and twice again v Bruges three years later). Beating through its system was the extraordinary pulse of Kevin Keegan.

A few memories: a cheeky brace against the tight-fisted Leeds defence at Elland Road, the cunning lob that went over Shilton’s head to put us through to the FA Cup Final in ’74, the feint and shimmy that sent us on our way at Molineux, an outrageous back-heeled volley v Spurs that Pat Jennings somehow turned on to the post, the one-man assault on Man Utd in a near-perfect 3-1 victory that kept Sir Bob on course for a second title, the European nights when hapless German, Polish and Belgian defenders crashed into each other in forlorn pursuit of the sprite that was no longer there. Above all, of course, his last game in Red when he destroyed the best man-marker in World football. That performance by Keegan still works. If you get the chance check it out on video. There are some mighty players (from both sides) on display but Keegan is transcendent. He looks to be not just above the game, but above the era. That season he’d gone off the boil a bit. I can remember grumblings on the Kop and half-hearted renditions of ‘Kevin Keegan walks on water’, which had been boomed out (and bounced to!) the season before. Some said he already had his mind on Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. But all was forgotten when he made Bertie Vogts his personal slave for 90 glorious minutes in Rome.

I was on the Kop when he brought his Newcastle team to Anfield and routed us 2-0. It was a couple of weeks before they tore up the terracing, and quite the worst Liverpool team I’ve ever seen. Kevin could easily have crowed but all he talked about after the game was how incredibly moved he was near the end when the old Kop had hoisted its flags and scarves and given the last rendition of YNWA he would ever hear. I remember him coming out of the dug-out to applaud it even as the game was going on. Class.

Rafa and the club could do no better than invite him to Anfield for the United game. Apart from reviving memories of a time when we routinely sent them packing with a free football education, it would show that this club still had its priorities right. Who governs the team? Who buys and sells the players? Keegan thought he did. Rafa would understand that.
 
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Offline horne

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #1 on: September 7, 2008, 03:56:18 pm »
loved him to bits as a kid.now i like him even more.honest,passionate and fair...what a fella.
he does things in line with the liverpool way.loyal to the core,providing it doesnt go against his moral code.would have loved to have seen him as liverpool manager in the past,although now i dont think he would have stood up to the task sadly.got a lot of time for the little fella.
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Offline Veinticinco de Mayo

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #2 on: September 7, 2008, 04:10:04 pm »
I went to my first game in the 78-79 season, Bristol City at home, 1-0 Dalglish, we stood in the Paddock and I saw sod all. It was brilliant.  All of which means that I was, unfortunately, too young to see Kevin Keegan play for us in the flesh. Kevin was, however, my first footballing idol, a namesake who I wanted to be in the school kickaround. 

Excellent post and some great early memories for me.
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Offline farters parters

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #3 on: September 7, 2008, 04:20:53 pm »
Love him. Although he's more of a Newcastle man these days and rarely talks about his Liverpool years with the same affection.

I'm sure some will mock the idea, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was considered for the Liverpool job at some point in the past.

Offline BCCC

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #4 on: September 7, 2008, 04:23:04 pm »

I thought the world was going to end when he left Liverpool.


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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #5 on: September 7, 2008, 04:34:31 pm »
Love him. Although he's more of a Newcastle man these days and rarely talks about his Liverpool years with the same affection.

I'm sure some will mock the idea, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was considered for the Liverpool job at some point in the past.

I've seen pictures of Keegan with some of the academy youngsters including Dalla Valle, so it shows he still comes to Liverpool and thinks of us. He was also wearing a liverpool training kit which was nice to see.

All this 'Messiah' stuff that the Newcastle fans were harping on about when he became their manager again was just pure blind hope from their part. Newcastle needs some real stability at the club, they've had about 4 managers in two years or something stupid like that. They need a top manager, and a well-respected one at that, so he can make the job tenable, because at the moment it is not.

Offline Manila Vanilla

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #6 on: September 7, 2008, 04:39:44 pm »
Agree with everything you say!

I have never , NEVER, seen anybody shake up a team as much as Keegan did in 1971/2.

It was an average team that came within a disallowed goal of winning the Championship, won it the next year and went on to dominate Europe after that. Keegan was the catalyst that made it all possible. I saw Dalglish, Barnes - the lot of them, but Keegan holds a special place. Not the most skillful player. Dalglish would take it on his chest and cushion it to his feet. Keegan would take it on his chest and knock it where he wanted it to go. I still have memories of a goal he scored in a 5-0 win over Newcastle. He ran from the half way line, sent defenders careering into each other and hit a shot which never deviated from the moment it left his boot.

And the guy was honest. If ever anyone left to better himself it was him. If he failed he held his hand up immediately. How many people have left a job because they admitted they probably weren't up to it? Kevin Keegan is one of the best players I've ever seen and one of the best examples. I'd wish him success in anything he does.

Offline Stussy

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #7 on: September 7, 2008, 04:40:13 pm »

Great post mate.
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Offline NornIron!!

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #8 on: September 7, 2008, 04:40:49 pm »
Love Kev always have, maybe not the best manager out there but great guy with a fantastic attitude!
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Offline fishmyman

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #9 on: September 7, 2008, 04:48:38 pm »
Kevin Keegan is living proof that nice guys dont finish last

Offline vicgill

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #10 on: September 7, 2008, 04:58:45 pm »
Great post mate, not only was he a great player, he was a great person too.
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #11 on: September 7, 2008, 04:58:57 pm »
Great post.  I was amazed by how condescending some people were on the sacking thread.  The man helped put Liverpool where it is now, and stands for football as sport and not business.  He deserves more respect from us, despite his flaws.
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #12 on: September 7, 2008, 05:01:09 pm »
Class thread and op.
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #13 on: September 7, 2008, 05:27:52 pm »
Keegan was my first footballing hero. Nothing brings a lump to my throat as much as watching dvd's of the early to mid '70s side when Keegan and Toshack reigned supreme.
   Remember his outburst against Ferguson on Sky? The general concensus of opinion was that he 'lost the plot'. Well, he didn't fucking well lose the plot at all. He had the balls to stand up to Ferguson after the c*nt suggested Newcastle's opponents might not try too hard. A trick he also pulled before we played Blackburn on the last day in '95.
  If any of Sky's gobshite pundits had the same backbone as Keegan it wouldn't be so bad.

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #14 on: September 7, 2008, 05:41:33 pm »
Kevin Keegan is my namesake, and my first idol.  Following what happened to him, my respect towards him grew stronger! YNWA King Kev!
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Offline neutron

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #15 on: September 7, 2008, 05:41:41 pm »
I will second, third and fourth all that! I recall watching his first game for us and thinking at the start, "who the f*** is this?" But by the end of those 90 minutes I was convinced - and knackered just from watching him!

Great player, great character - terrible haircut.

(Good and timely thread too!)

Offline theriotact

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #16 on: September 7, 2008, 05:46:39 pm »
Fantastic post, really enjoyed reading that. Keegan is great. I listened as a kid to Roma final, Keegan commentating on the radio. At the start of the spot kicks he said something like 'this is a terrible way to end a football match'. After we'd won his co commentator asked him how he felt. Like a little boy he said, 'What a great way to end a football match!'.

Legend. We can share him.

Offline rhylred

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #17 on: September 7, 2008, 05:57:13 pm »
Last six months of his L.F.C. career things turned a bit sour when he said he'd be leaving,but remember being in Rome that nite when i watched him giving the great Bertie vogts the biggest runaround he ever had...one of our best ever..he also got me 2 tickets for the 74 cup semifinal against Leicester so maybe I'm a bit biased!!

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #18 on: September 7, 2008, 06:00:17 pm »
Excellent post Yorky. I think the part about the English attitude to skill and effort is spot on.
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Offline redstevec

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #19 on: September 7, 2008, 06:04:34 pm »
Keegan is a one off - his passion and his commitment totally reflect the adage about hard work. I was away on holiday when he made his debut and I couldn't believe that this lad had gone straight into the first team and scored. It wasn't the way we did it - but Kevin was special.
His approach to the game was as refreshing then as it is now - but unfortunately times have changed and probably not for the better.
Kevin as a player was one of my heroes (although not quite in the class of Peter Cormack!!). His display in Rome following a pretty inept display at Wembley on the previous Saturday was awe inspiring - to all of those who created and maintained the myth that all he had was hard work, this was a slap in the face.

When he left Hamburg, I couldn't believe he didn't come back - but that was Keegan, always able to surprise.

And that ability to surprise re-emerged when he went back to Newcastle earlier this year. I have seen the raft of press releases and comments released over the last few days - I know who I believe and it certainly isn't the fat arrogant chump who owns Newcastle.

Kevin Keegan was a key pillar in our transformation from great English side to European champions - he deserves our thanks and respect. The world is too full of grey characters who don't say what they think - and as a result more and more true football supporters will be lost to the game.

Good luck Kevin - YNWA

Offline Shanks1965

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #20 on: September 7, 2008, 06:05:41 pm »
I wrote to Keegan when he was at Fulham right at the end of Roy Evans career when it was clear his time was up. Told him we all still loved him and if the position of manager was to become available then we'd love him to come and manage Liverpool FC.  Gave him all sorts of reasons from Shankly right through to Rome, told him it was his fate, destiny, you name it.

[OK I took the liberty of speaking on behalf of reds everywhere]

I got a personal reply which responded to everyone of the points and reasons in my letter. He said he would have loved to manage Livepool one day but he was very happy at Fulham. He wished the club and the supporters all the best and signed the letter Kevin.

He was, is and always will be a top bloke in my eyes and would have been a great Liverpool manager.
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #21 on: September 7, 2008, 06:18:02 pm »
There is no doubt kevin Keegan is a liverpool legend  the only reason kevin does not get the mentions he deserves is because of the greatness of kenny dalglish , But kevin was liverpool football club's first world wide name and a defo legend for the reds .

Offline Liverbabel

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #22 on: September 7, 2008, 06:22:07 pm »
I love kevin for me he's always been a liverpool legend, he's more identified with newcastle now but he will always be a legend here in my eye's. What about terry mac he's also a legend for us but seems to be on team newcastle like kevin. Why is that? When did terry mac switch allies then that make's me so sad, he was a great player too. But keegan is too nice a guy for modern day football he's very old school and it's just about the football for him the way it should still be but isn't. I hope he finds somewhere were he can be a sucsess and just move's on from newcastle.
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Offline Red_in_Holland

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #23 on: September 7, 2008, 06:23:36 pm »
Superb post Yorky mate.

Agree with everything you said about Kev.. amazing striker with a natural gift for scoring which was gobsmacking to see.

As someone else pointed out, I used to get exhausted just watching him play.

Spot on.  Very glad you took the time to write that.
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #24 on: September 7, 2008, 06:26:16 pm »
legend - absolutely devastated when he said he was going - we know what we got in his place but oh god when he went it was awful.  Good luck to him
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #25 on: September 7, 2008, 06:32:13 pm »
I love kevin for me he's always been a liverpool legend, he's more identified with newcastle now but he will always be a legend here in my eye's. What about terry mac he's also a legend for us but seems to be on team newcastle like kevin. Why is that? When did terry mac switch allies then that make's me so sad, he was a great player too. But keegan is too nice a guy for modern day football he's very old school and it's just about the football for him the way it should still be but isn't. I hope he finds somewhere were he can be a sucsess and just move's on from newcastle.

Terry Mc came to us from Newcastle, and returned to em when he left us, there's the clue in that.
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #26 on: September 7, 2008, 06:34:22 pm »
Top post, and about a top man too.
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #27 on: September 7, 2008, 06:38:23 pm »
I'm too young to have ever seen him play, but he's my dad's favourite player and he's always raving about how good he was.

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #28 on: September 7, 2008, 06:41:26 pm »
I'm too young to have ever seen him play, but he's my dad's favourite player and he's always raving about how good he was.
I'll tell you how good he was and you're dad will no doubt agree. When Kevin didnt play we used to think "oh shit, Keegans out". He was as has been said already the heart beat of the team. Even with great players around him he was the one that made us tick.
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Offline trigger

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #29 on: September 7, 2008, 06:47:42 pm »
legend - absolutely devastated when he said he was going - we know what we got in his place but oh god when he went it was awful.  Good luck to him

I remember being at Anfield when he came back with Hamburg and we twatted them....was sad to see him trudge off with the sound of "you shoulda stayed at Anfield" ringing in his ears!
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #30 on: September 7, 2008, 06:48:38 pm »
Well. If there's ever been a more uplifting post then it must have slipped from my memory.

Yorky - fuckin superbissimo mate. Loved reading that. You have done justice to a great Liverpool man and a great football man. Not an easy thing to do.

As much as every latterday expert thinks they know all about Kevin Keegan the fact is most of them haven't got a fuckin clue just how special he was to our club.

The man is a hugely underacknowledged talent who - as yourself and a few more knowledgeable souls on this thread have been at pains to stress - was the difference between our continued dallying with greatness [post Shank's first creation] and our actually achieving it.

The problem for the likes of ourselves is that Keegan's early years with the Reds have somehow come to play eternal second fiddle to his subsequent successful - yet actually nowhere near as magical in a playing sense - spells with Hamburg and the Geordies. His relative ordinariness in an England shirt hasn't helped this either. It means younger fans eye any claim you make as to just how incredible he was with a knowing suspicion that's usually reserved for outlandish tales from anglers whose fish grow by the foot with every conversation.

We know different of course.

I've said it many times before but I'll say it again. The Keegan we were all privileged to witness in that first season in a red shirt was the most exciting sequence of performances from any other footballer bar George Best at his early zenith.

The way Keegan used to light up the pitch with his incessant motion, his darting runs and sudden spins leaving defenders gasping in his wake will stay with me forever. The fact he would then proceed over the ensuing years to win some games virtually single handed was the bonus which rightfully bestowed on him his mantle of greatness.

Without Kevin Keegan this club would never have reached the heights it eventually managed to attain. That is a given.

Well in Yorky lad.

Be nice if you sent this thread to the fella if that's possible. The least he deserves.


Offline arabian red

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #31 on: September 7, 2008, 06:49:25 pm »
a class post
all the tributes are spot on
was in the kop on his debut - you just knew then that he was going to be something special
 
'Kevin Keegan's always running, John Toshack is always scoring, then you hear the kopites roaring, Toshack is our king'
na na na na....etc.

ahh, those were the days..........

Offline Armin

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #32 on: September 7, 2008, 06:50:28 pm »
Fantastic post, thanks for writing it. Keegan was my first football hero.
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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #33 on: September 7, 2008, 06:57:07 pm »
Will never forget his goal in the semi in 74 when he lobbed Shilton. I was only young listening to it on the radio and winning the Cup then was huge. Keegan was instrumental in us doing that and was a very special player and personality for that team.

His role in making Liverpool a great European force was huge. Massive performances in 73 and 76 v Borrussia and Bruges when he scored in the away leg of the final (I think) having been 2-0 down at home in the first leg.

Then utterly key in the march to Rome and the game itself.

Keegan was a very special player in Liverpool's history and his role shouldn't be forgotten just because Kenny was even better.


Offline bigbear

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #34 on: September 7, 2008, 06:58:59 pm »
Well. If there's ever been a more uplifting post then it must have slipped from my memory.

Yorky - fuckin superbissimo mate. Loved reading that. You have done justice to a great Liverpool man and a great football man. Not an easy thing to do.

As much as every latterday expert thinks they know all about Kevin Keegan the fact is most of them haven't got a fuckin clue just how special he was to our club.

The man is a hugely underacknowledged talent who - as yourself and a few more knowledgeable souls on this thread have been at pains to stress - was the difference between our continued dallying with greatness [post Shank's first creation] and our actually achieving it.

The problem for the likes of ourselves is that Keegan's early years with the Reds have somehow come to play eternal second fiddle to his subsequent successful - yet actually nowhere near as magical in a playing sense - spells with Hamburg and the Geordies. His relative ordinariness in an England shirt hasn't helped this either. It means younger fans eye any claim you make as to just how incredible he was with a knowing suspicion that's usually reserved for outlandish tales from anglers whose fish grow by the foot with every conversation.

We know different of course.

I've said it many times before but I'll say it again. The Keegan we were all privileged to witness in that first season in a red shirt was the most exciting sequence of performances from any other footballer bar George Best at his early zenith.

The way Keegan used to light up the pitch with his incessant motion, his darting runs and sudden spins leaving defenders gasping in his wake will stay with me forever. The fact he would then proceed over the ensuing years to win some games virtually single handed was the bonus which rightfully bestowed on him his mantle of greatness.

Without Kevin Keegan this club would never have reached the heights it eventually managed to attain. That is a given.

Well in Yorky lad.

Be nice if you sent this thread to the fella if that's possible. The least he deserves.


Very much agree.

Offline ..Bruiser..

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #35 on: September 7, 2008, 07:04:52 pm »
The problem is that we had such a great number 7 to succeed him. We didn't get the chance to miss him like we did Barnes when no winger like him has been here since. Maybe some people my age and younger, who are too young to remember Kev playing, see him as a Newcastle man and so don't esteem him as highly as King Kenny, who we saw play and manage the club.

As for me, I can't put it any better than some of the posts on here. Here's to Keegan, a legend of these parts.
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Offline Limerick_red

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #36 on: September 7, 2008, 07:19:31 pm »
Excellent post and one that I enjoyed reading immensely. Unfortunately I am too young to have watched Kevin Keegan play in the flesh. The nearest I have come to experiencing this is through old videos but I know it can no way reflect or convey the impact that this man had on the club. What really confirmed it for me, was growing up and watching him ply his trade as a football manager. He is not the most successful manager ever but his integrity and honesty are what won me over. His passion and love for the game of football alone are refreshing especially in a cynical time when money seems to do the talking and loyalties can be paid for. I might not have seen him play for my club but for me he is still one of my heroes and this says a lot about the man himself.

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #37 on: September 7, 2008, 07:26:06 pm »
wow - what an eloquent post.

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #38 on: September 7, 2008, 07:27:19 pm »
I went to my first game in the 78-79 season, Leeds at home, 1-0 Neal, we stood in the Paddock and I saw sod all. It was brilliant.  All of which means that I was, unfortunately, too young to see Kevin Keegan play for us in the flesh. Kevin was, however, my first footballing idol, a namesake who I wanted to be in the school kickaround. 

Excellent post and some great early memories for me.

My life story. ;)

Great reminder of our Kev; him and Steve Heighway were my first footie heroes. :wave

Offline Rafas3leggedtable

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Re: Kevin Keegan – a Liverpool Hero
« Reply #39 on: September 7, 2008, 07:29:56 pm »
nice read - i agree we should not forget the role he played in our success.

Neither should we ever forget Michael Owen either (a player whose career mirrors that of Keegans). It would be fitting if we not only reach out a friendly hand to Kev next time he is here but also to Mikey too. Once a red....
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