Newcastle and Liverpool unite to honour Kevin Keegan before Premier League opener at St James' Park

Newcastle United and Liverpool paid a moving tribute to Kevin Keegan before their Premier League opener at St James’ Park, with wreaths laid in the memorial gardens and players warming up in number seven shirts in honour of the football icon who died in July aged 75.

Keegan had revealed earlier this year that he was battling a stage four cancer diagnosis. His death prompted an outpouring of grief across the football world, and Sunday’s occasion brought together two clubs he served with distinction — as a player at Liverpool and as a manager at Newcastle.

Bobby Moncur, Ian Rush, Shola Ameobi and Sir Kenny Dalglish were among those who laid wreaths in Newcastle’s memorial gardens before kick-off. Outside St James’ Park, supporters arranged a mosaic of 500 shirts at the centre circle, while tributes from fans of clubs across the country had already gathered at the ground in the weeks since his passing.

Keegan’s family composed a letter for Newcastle’s matchday programme that captured the depth of feeling surrounding his death. “The past couple of weeks have been some of the hardest that our family has endured, saying goodbye to our husband, father, and grandfather, Kevin,” it read. “The empathy, compassion and warmth of this extraordinary club and community have shone through; the outpouring of love has been truly overwhelming.”

The family described how members had travelled to Newcastle to see the memorials in person. “The sea of black and white shirts and scarves, alongside colours from so many other clubs, reminded us how much Kevin meant to the footballing world,” the letter continued. “Seeing these tributes brought those stories to life for Kevin’s grandchildren, showing them how deeply their grandfather was loved.”

Keegan made his name as a player at Liverpool, where he won the European Cup, two UEFA Cups and three First Division titles. He later became one of the most beloved figures in Newcastle’s history, guiding the club’s famous ‘Entertainers’ side through the 1990s in his first managerial role.

He also managed Manchester City, taking charge in 2001 after the club had been relegated from the Premier League. He guided City back to the top flight, signing players including Nicolas Anelka and Marc-Vivien Foe, before leaving the role in 2005. He also served as England manager.

The tribute at St James’ Park reflected the breadth of his legacy — a figure who left a lasting mark on every club he represented.