Kevin Keegan dies at 75 as Liverpool and Newcastle plan tributes for Premier League opener

Kevin Keegan, one of English football’s most beloved figures, died on July 20 aged 75 after a battle with stage four stomach cancer — a diagnosis his family made public in January. The two clubs where he left the deepest mark, Newcastle United and Liverpool, will honour him when they meet at St James’ Park on the opening day of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Keegan had spoken openly about his wish to return to Tyneside one final time. At an event in Newcastle in May, he said: “I want to say goodbye. I didn’t get the chance when I left the club last time.” That poignant wish now shapes the tributes both clubs are planning.

Newcastle confirmed they are working with Liverpool, supporter groups including the Newcastle United Supporters Trust and Wor Flags, and the Premier League itself to ensure the occasion reflects the scale of his legacy. “To ensure his memory is marked fittingly before the game, the club is in communication with Liverpool and will work closely with supporter groups,” a Newcastle statement read.

Liverpool, where Keegan made 323 appearances between 1971 and 1977, said a further tribute would be held before their first home match of the season on August 29 against Nottingham Forest, with a fan mosaic, a period of applause, and players wearing black armbands.

Born in Doncaster, Keegan began his career at Scunthorpe before Bill Shankly brought him to Anfield in 1971. At Liverpool he won the First Division title three times, the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup twice, and the 1977 European Cup. He then moved to Hamburg, where he was named European Footballer of the Year in back-to-back seasons — the only British player to win the award, now known as the Ballon d’Or, more than once.

He returned to England with Southampton in 1980 before joining Second Division Newcastle, helping them win promotion to the top flight before retiring at 33. His second chapter on Tyneside as manager, which began in 1992, brought further adoration as he transformed the club and came agonisingly close to the Premier League title in 1996.

Keegan earned 63 England caps, scoring 21 goals, and represented his country at the 1982 World Cup. He later managed the national side between 1999 and 2000. Tributes have poured in from across the football world, but it is on Tyneside and Merseyside where his loss is felt most deeply.