English football is in mourning after a devastating double blow, with legendary player and manager Kevin Keegan diagnosed with cancer just hours after the death of his former international teammate, Martin Chivers.
A Difficult Diagnosis for a Football Great
Kevin Keegan, the 74-year-old two-time Ballon d'Or winner, was recently admitted to hospital for investigation of abdominal symptoms. Tests confirmed a cancer diagnosis, for which he will now undergo treatment.
A statement released by his family through Newcastle United said: "Kevin Keegan was recently admitted to hospital for further evaluation of ongoing abdominal symptoms. These investigations have revealed a diagnosis of cancer, for which Kevin will undergo treatment." The statement expressed gratitude to the medical team and requested privacy for the family during this challenging time.
Newcastle United, a club Keegan both played for and managed, showed their support overnight with a tribute message displayed on the St James' Park scoreboard.
A Storied Career on Pitch and Sideline
Keegan's football journey is the stuff of legend. He began at Scunthorpe before Bill Shankly signed him for Liverpool in 1971. His success at Anfield was immense, winning the old First Division title three times, the FA Cup, two UEFA Cups, and the European Cup in 1977.
His brilliance was recognised with the Ballon d'Or award in 1978 and 1979, the latter while playing for German club Hamburg. After returning to England with Southampton, he later starred for Newcastle United before retiring in 1984.
As an England international, Keegan earned 63 caps and scored 21 goals, captaining the side and playing at the 1982 World Cup.
His managerial career was equally passionate. He famously guided Newcastle United into the Premier League and came agonisingly close to winning the title in the 1995-96 season. He later managed the England national team from 1999, resigning after a defeat to Germany at the old Wembley Stadium in 2000. Further spells at Manchester City and a second, emotional stint at Newcastle followed.
Football Mourns Martin Chivers
The news of Keegan's illness came on the same day football learned of the passing of Martin Chivers at the age of 80. Chivers, a powerful striker, played alongside Keegan for England in the early 1970s.
Chivers made his name at Tottenham Hotspur, where he scored 174 goals in 367 appearances between 1968 and 1976. He helped Spurs win two League Cups and the UEFA Cup, and remained the club's top European scorer for decades until Jermain Defoe broke his record in 2013.
His £125,000 transfer from Southampton to Tottenham in 1968 made him Britain's most expensive player at the time. For England, he won 24 caps and netted 13 goals.
The dual announcements have cast a pall over the football community, uniting fans in support for a living legend facing a serious health battle and in remembrance of a formidable goalscorer from a past era.
