NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.14: Kevin Keegan
Years: 1971-1977
Appearances: 323
Goals: 100
Trophies: First Division (1972-73, 1975-76, 1976-77), UEFA Cup (1973, 1976), FA Cup (1974), European Cup (1977)
Kevin Keegan was Liverpool’s superstar for much of the 1970s and signed off by helping to win the club’s first European Cup on his final appearance.
Nimble, skilful, courageous and non-stop, Keegan was brought to Anfield from Scunthorpe United in 1971 by Bill Shankly – initially slated for a midfield position.
It was further forward where he would shine, however, forming a superb strike partnership with John Toshack and plundering exactly a century of goals while wearing the red shirt.
After scoring 11 times across a debut season that ended without silverware for Liverpool, the No.7 leapt to new levels to become the talisman of Shankly’s second great team.
Sixty-four appearances in 1972-73 yielded a brilliant tally of 22 goals and 19 assists from Keegan, key contributions to winning the First Division title and the club’s maiden European trophy.
Keegan scored two of the goals and set up the other as the Reds prevailed 3-2 against Borussia Monchengladbach in the two-legged UEFA Cup decider.
A year later, another brace from the man known as ‘Mighty Mouse’ in another final highlighted a clinical Liverpool performance to rout Newcastle United 3-0 and claim the FA Cup at Wembley.
Keegan and Shankly forged a strong and symbiotic relationship, with the manager’s belief and guidance boosting the player’s self-confidence and ensuring his rich talents were maximised.
“Liverpool made me, not just as a footballer but as a person,” said Keegan.
“The fans made me. When they started singing my name! What am I, 5ft7 with Cuban-heeled boots? But [because of them] I was 6ft6.”
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Watch on YouTubeA fallow season in 1974-75 – Bob Paisley’s first as boss – was a temporary blip as Keegan supplied 32 goal contributions in the next season to repeat the trick of a league title and UEFA Cup double.
He was duly named the country’s Footballer of the Year.
But Keegan was eager to try a new challenge elsewhere and informed the club 1976-77 would be his last campaign at Anfield, to the large shock and disappointment of supporters.
There was no downing of tools from the forward, though, as he scored 20 goals to reach 100 overall at Liverpool and also chalked up 18 assists.
The league title was successfully defended – Keegan’s third championship win – and Paisley guided the Reds to a first European Cup final.
Whatever happened, that showpiece versus Gladbach in Rome was going to be Keegan’s goodbye. With a top-class performance, he ensured it would be a celebratory one.
“Keegan in his farewell flourish wrote his name over this game,” wrote the Daily Post.
He ran man-marker Berti Vogts ragged, eventually drawing a foul and penalty kick that Phil Neal dispatched to seal a 3-1 win.
It was the perfect way to wrap up a phenomenal Liverpool career.
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