We Say Goodbye to Kevin Keegan
OLSC Richmond VA is deeply saddened by the passing of one of LFC’s all-time greats Kevin Keegan.
As background, Keegan began his Liverpool career in exploding fashion with two goals in his first four matches of which Liverpool won three. Shankly was certainly impressed by what he saw: "I was just as sure of Keegan as I was of Denis Law,and I never had cause to think again about Denis. These two players are so much alike in number of ways. Keegan is an exciting boy all right", Shankly said in late August 1971.
Keegan joined Scunthorpe as an apprentice in 1968 and made his name as a midfield player in the Fourth Division playing 120 League games. He was signed when Liverpool were busy preparing for their FA Cup final date with Arsenal at Wembley in May 1971. Shankly knew he had signed a player of exceptional potential whom he supposedly envisaged replacing Ian Callaghan on the right flank as the veteran had serious ligament problems. The 20-year-old Yorkshireman was left behind when Liverpool flew off on their traditional pre-season tour. Four days before the 1971/72 season was due to open, Shankly picked Keegan for the first team in a full-scale practice match at Melwood, normally a game where fitness is more important than the result. But Keegan created havoc that day and Shankly had no hesitation in giving him his debut against Nottingham Forest at Anfield the following Saturday when the League season opened. Keegan scored after 12 minutes and after netting three times in the opening five League fixtures, it was clear that he was in the first team to stay. Keegan never played in a single reserve fixture during the whole of his seven seasons at Anfield,
Liverpool signed future legend Kevin Keegan from Scunthorpe on 10 May 1971. "Mighty Mouse" describes the eventful day in his autobiography.
I was sitting on a dustbin outside the temporary offices of Liverpool Football Club when three or four photographers arrived. 'Can I take a picture of you sitting there?, asked one. 'Well, they are signing a load of rubbish, so people might as well know it straight away,' I joked. There was nowhere else for me to sit. I sat on the dustbin for twenty minutes after the photographers had left. When Shankly came out of the door, he shook hands and said, 'Medical!' He beckoned me over to his car, a Capri and off we went."
Keegan was an incredible player, tireless in showing off his talents and his enthusiasm invariably made his teammates more determined to succeed. He was a smashing success at every club he played. Dangerous in the air despite a comparative lack of height, he had a wonderful understanding with big John Toshack during his early seasons at Anfield and his speed of thought created numerous goals for his colleagues with his intelligent runs and passing. He was the first pin-up boy Liverpool had really ever had and made the number seven shirt so famous. He appeared for us 323 times, scoring 100 goals and 73 assists across 6 seasons. He won 3 League titles, 2 UEFA Cups, an FA Cup and a European Cup as well as 2 Ballon d’Or’s and a FAW Footballer of the Year. Kevin Keegan should rightly be remembered as one of the finest players ever to wear a Liverpool shirt. RIP Mighty Mouse.
