Keegan left Merseyside for Germany in 1977 and formed a bond between the two cities
Liverpool footballer Kevin Keegan shows off his Best Youngster of the Year Award before a league division one match at Anfield in
August 1972
Liverpool footballer Kevin Keegan shows off his Best Youngster of the Year Award before a league division one match at Anfield in August 1972(Image: Mirrorpix)
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Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan became a “bridge between two great cities” and had been due to return to the city he left the Reds for to celebrate the ties he had created. Tributes poured in for the former Anfield superstar following his death earlier this week aged 75.
Keegan was one of the most decorated English players of all time, winning the Ballon d’Or twice. He made more than 300 appearances during his time on Merseyside, scoring exactly 100 goals.
He lifted seven major honours – including the club’s first European Cup on his final appearance. It was after this Keegan made the move to Germany.
Writing to the mayor of Hamburg, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram revealed Keegan had been due to join him in a trip to the city to commemorate Hamburg’s harbour festival. His cancer diagnosis prevented him from travelling.
In the letter, seen by the ECHO, Mr Rotheram said: “For one half of our football-mad city, Kevin was a footballing hero; for the other, a well-respected irritant on derby day. He was not just a Liverpool FC legend and one of the most beloved figures our city has ever known.
“When Kevin left our shores for Germany in 1977, he did more than make a then-record transfer between two football clubs. He built a bridge between two great cities.”
The mayor said Keegan’s success belong equally to Liverpool and Hamburg where he was both “admired and loved.” Mr Rotheram added: “To me, he embodied better than anyone else that famous maxim: football is the people’s game.”
Celebrations for LIverpool as they win their first European trophy with Kevin Keegan carried on fans shoulders after they invaded the pitch in 1973
Celebrations for LIverpool as they win their first European trophy with Kevin Keegan carried on fans shoulders after they invaded the pitch in 1973(Image: Mirrorpix)
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He also paid tribute to Keegan’s efforts to forge a relationship between the cities that “remains strong to this day” with his career celebrated as part of a special exhibition highlighting the links between Liverpool and Hamburg. The mayor said: “As you may remember, Kevin wrote some words for me to convey to the large audience at the Liverpool City Region pavilion back in May.
“Despite my pidgin German and broad Scouse accent, they received a warm response. Kevin may have left both cities many years ago, but he never truly left our hearts.
“He was intending to join us at your port anniversary celebrations – the Hafengeburtstag – until his cancer diagnosis changed his plans. He was devastated not to be attending, but he did provide me with a personal note that I felt honoured to read out on the Liverpool stage on the banks of the Elbe.”
Mr Rotheram shared Keegan’s message to Hamburg in his letter to their mayor, Dr Peter Tschtscher. He wrote: “In Kevin’s words, once again: Forgive my Plattdeutsch, but I love Hamburg.
“On behalf of the people of Liverpool, we send our deepest condolences to Kevin’s friends, the HSV family and the people of Hamburg. Thank you for loving him as we did. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”