The winner of two Ballons d’Or, four league titles and a European Cup, Kevin Keegan is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Mighty Mouse, aptly named for his diminutive frame, began his career with Scunthorpe United, but it is for his time with Liverpool and Hamburg for which he is best remembered, with Keegan being one of the best-ever Brits to play abroad.
Signed by Bill Shankly, Keegan was an essential part of the legendary manager’s team for the three years that he was managed by the Scot. This importance was retained under Shankly’s successor, Bob Paisley, with Keegan lifting three First Division trophies and a European Cup in his final year as a Liverpool player.
Keegan would sign for Hamburg in 1977, spending three years in Germany before returning to English football, first with Southampton and then with Newcastle United, retiring in 1985 after a brief stint with Blacktown City. Despite retiring 40 years ago, Keegan is still remembered by many.
One such figure to remember Keegan is John Giles, who himself is a footballing legend. Though he began his career with Manchester United, it was with cross-county rivals Leeds United that Giles had the most success, forming an effective midfield partnership with Billy Bremner for much of manager Don Revie’s tenure at the club.
Giles spent 12 years with the Whites in what is still regarded as their most successful era in over 100 years of history. The Irishman won two First Division titles and an FA Cup with Leeds, while also reaching the final of the 1974/75 European Cup.
‘I Did Actually Hit Him’
Giles reveals details of infamous final
The 1974/75 campaign is still remembered by Leeds fans for the controversies that embroiled that European Cup final. At the term’s beginning, however, the Whites had the chance to win silverware in the Charity Shield, now known as the Community Shield, a game in which they faced a Liverpool side that featured Keegan in their attack.
Liverpool won the match on penalties after a 1-1 draw, though the game is best remembered for both Keegan and Bremner being dismissed and the irate reactions, particularly from Keegan, that followed the decision, with the Reds' ace having been on the receiving end of more than one crunching tackle.
Back in 2020, Giles spoke with Off The Ball and reflected on the game, sharing details about his own encounter with Keegan, who seemed annoyed for most of the match.
“That was in the Charity Shield in 1974. Kevin was a terrific player, he got Liverpool back on track, really, when he got to the club. That day, he seemed to be in a bit of a mood. I know the ball went to Norman Hunter, and it was very unlike him; he had a go at Norman. The ball broke, he had a go at Billy (Bremner) and then it broke again.
“I got onto it, going towards Terry Cooper, and he was all over me, over the back of my legs, over the top. He was in a bit of a temper. I shouldn’t have done what I did. I let him come past me, and I actually did hit him. Luckily enough, (Bob) Matthewson was the referee and I got on well with him. He came up, I said ‘sorry about that’ and he let me off.
“There were a few Liverpool players around, they didn’t say anything. Maybe they thought he was a bit moody, and they might have thought, well, he deserved to get that.”
Keegan and Bremner’s dismissals marked the first time that anybody was dismissed from the Charity Shield, with both players being fined and banned after the incident. Despite not being shown any marching orders himself, Giles was also evidently involved in the fracas. Thankfully, it seemingly did no long-lasting damage to the relationship between the three away from the pitch.
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