Sir Alex Ferguson pays tribute to Kevin Keegan, remembering their rivalry
Tributes to a Football Icon
Sir Alex Ferguson, former manager of Manchester United, has paid tribute to his former rival, Kevin Keegan, following Keegan’s passing at the age of 75. Ferguson remarked that Keegan “carried the love of the game on his sleeve” and expressed his deep respect for the impact Keegan had, particularly during his time as manager of Newcastle United.
Keegan’s death was announced on Monday, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the football community. Ferguson specifically highlighted Keegan’s work at Newcastle, noting the fantastic job he did in re-energising the club and bringing enthusiasm to its supporters.
During his first tenure as Magpies boss from 1992 to 1997, Keegan led the club to promotion to the Premier League in 1992-93. Three years later, Newcastle finished as runners-up to Ferguson’s United in the league.
Ferguson also credited Keegan with bringing “three great players” to Newcastle: David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla, and Philippe Albert, who added a touch of class to the team. He described the challenges posed by Newcastle during that period as “huge” for United, suggesting that Keegan’s teams represented Newcastle’s “best ever team.”
Rivalry and Mutual Respect
The rivalry between Ferguson and Keegan was well-known, particularly during the 1995-96 Premier League season when Newcastle, after holding a 12-point lead, ultimately lost the title to United. This period included Keegan’s memorable televised comment, “I will love it if we beat them,” which came after Ferguson questioned the effort other teams might put in against Newcastle compared to Manchester United.
Despite the intensity of their on-field and verbal duels, Ferguson recalled a chance encounter with Keegan at Wentworth Golf Club weeks after that season concluded. He noted that there was no animosity between them, and they spent time together. Ferguson praised Keegan’s quality of holding no grudges, stating, “That was a fantastic quality he had and we had a great night.”
Beyond his managerial career, Keegan had a distinguished playing career with clubs such as Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, and Newcastle. He secured three league titles, the European Cup, two Uefa Cups, and the FA Cup during his six-year spell at Liverpool from 1971 to 1977.
Keegan also helped Hamburg win the Bundesliga and earned back-to-back Ballons d’Or in 1978 and 1979, making him one of only four English players to have received the award. As a manager, he also led Fulham and Manchester City, in addition to managing the England national team from February 1999 to October 2000.
A Man of Humility and Friendship
Many have highlighted Keegan’s personal qualities, including his humility and kindness. Neil Baldwin, who founded the Neil Baldwin Football Club, shared that Keegan agreed to be its president. Baldwin, who grew up with learning difficulties, described Keegan as “a great friend of mine” and recalled Keegan sending him a letter and an England rosette after his mother passed away.
Malcolm Clarke, former chair of the Football Supporters Association, confirmed Keegan’s friendship with Baldwin, noting that Keegan wrote Baldwin a letter for a testimonial game celebrating Baldwin’s 40 years at Keele University. Clarke quoted Keegan’s words from the letter: “I have the honour of being the president of the Neil Baldwin Football Club,” which Clarke felt perfectly encapsulated Keegan’s humble approach.
Keegan also invited Baldwin to Wembley to watch England games when he was the national team manager, making Baldwin an “honoured guest.” Clarke reflected on how remarkable it was for an England manager to dedicate time to such gestures.
Angela Smith, a former football summariser, recounted Keegan’s unveiling of the permanent memorial to Sir Stanley Matthews at Stoke’s stadium in 2001. She noted that Keegan did not ask for a fee for the appearance, which she saw as a testament to his character. Smith added that Keegan seemed to feel it was a “massive honour” to perform the unveiling and spent hours signing autographs and engaging with fans, demonstrating his thoroughly pleasant nature.
Current Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also spoke of Keegan’s influence, stating that Keegan was an inspiration and a friend whose guidance meant a great deal to him. Howe recalled Keegan’s warmth and generosity when he was appointed by the Magpies in 2021, and that Keegan was always willing to share his wisdom and provide support.
Sir Kenny Dalglish, who succeeded Keegan at Liverpool and later as Newcastle manager, described him as “one of the very best players of his generation” and a “genuine gentleman.” Dalglish noted that Keegan gave many people wonderful memories and that his teams played in a way supporters loved to watch. Phil Thompson, a former England and Liverpool team-mate, called Keegan the “best of all the people I have known in football and in sport,” highlighting his humility and inspirational presence at Liverpool.
Keegan scored 21 goals in 63 games for England between 1972 and 1982.
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Source: bbc.co.uk