Former England manager Kevin Keegan has been diagnosed with cancer after being admitted to hospital with ongoing abdominal symptoms.
Keegan, one of the best footballers of his generation and a hugely popular figure in the sport, is set to undergo treatment, his family said in a statement.
The statement also said ‘King Kev’, who also managed Newcastle United, Manchester City and Fulham, was ‘grateful’ to the medical team for their ‘intervention and ongoing care’.
‘Kevin Keegan was recently admitted to hospital for further evaluation of ongoing abdominal symptoms,’ a statement from the 74-year-old’s family read.
‘These investigations have revealed a diagnosis of cancer, for which Kevin will undergo treatment.
‘Kevin is grateful to the medical team for their intervention and ongoing care.
‘During this difficult time, the family are requesting privacy, and will be making no further comment.’
Newcastle fans delivered a powerful show of support to Keegan ahead of their Premier League game against Leeds United on Wednesday night.
The words ‘we are all with you, King Kev’ were displayed on the big screen, while supporters broke out into a chant of ‘there’s only one Kevin Keegan’, with head coach Eddie Howe among those on his feet applauding.
Keegan started what proved to be a hugely successful career at Scunthorpe United before being signed by legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in 1971.
With exactly 100 goals in 323 appearances, Keegan was part of one of Liverpool’s most successful teams, helping the club win three league titles, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup and the European Cup.
Keegan was one of England’s most important players throughout the 1970s, captaining the team 31 times and at Euro 1980.
During his subsequent spell in Germany with Hamburger, Keegan’s impressive performances led to him being named European Football of the Year in back-to-back years and winning two Ballon d’Or awards.
Keegan had a brief but influential spell at Newcastle at the end of his playing career but secure his status as a club legend while managing the club after retiring.
In his first season in charge, Keegan guided Newcastle to promotion to the Premier League as First Division champions.
Keegan’s ‘Entertainers’ threatened to win the Premier League on more than one occasion once back in the top-flight, narrowly missing out on the title in 1995-96 to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
Keegan has the honour of managing his country at the end of the decade but failed to have the impact he had at Newcastle, resigning after less than two years in the job after a 2002 World Cup qualifying defeat.
Like at Newcastle, Keegan also took Manchester City back into the Premier League in his first season at the club before his final managerial spell – a brief eight-month spell back at St James’ Park which ended due to tensions at board level.
Keegan was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and named by Liverpool fans as their eighth most important player of all time.
Following Keegan’s cancer diagnosis, Liverpool said in a statement: ‘The thoughts and support of everyone at Liverpool FC and Forever Reds are with Kevin Keegan after he was diagnosed with cancer.
‘A legendary former Reds player, Keegan scored 100 goals in 323 appearances during a six-year spell at Anfield, with his honours at the club including three league titles, a European Cup, two UEFA Cups and an FA Cup.
‘All of us at LFC and official former players association Forever Reds send our best wishes to Kevin, his family and friends.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
