Former soccer star Kevin Keegan of Armthorpe, England passed away on Monday at the age of 75 according to the Associated Press. The cause of death was cancer. Keegan’s death came one day after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On Sunday, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup Final from East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Keegan played 63 games internationally for England from 1972 to 1982. In that time frame, he scored 21 goals.
Recognized as one of the best soccer players in the 1970s, Keegan won the Ballon d’Or (presented to the European Footballer of the Year) in 1978 and 1979 while playing with Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga. He was only the second player ever to win the Ballon d’Or in back-to-back years. The first was Johan Cruyff of Amsterdam, Netherlands, who won the 1973 and 1974 Ballon d’Or awards while playing with FC Barcelona.
Keegan played 18 seasons of professional soccer. He was with Scunthorpe United for three seasons (1968 to 1971), Liverpool for six seasons (1971 to 1977), Hamburger for three seasons (1977 to 1980), Southampton for two seasons (1980 to 1982), Newcastle United for two seasons (1982 to 1984), and Australia’s Blacktown City for one season (1985).
An attacking midfielder and forward, Keegan had three braces with England in international play. He scored twice in a 4-1 England win over Finland on June 13, 1976 in a 1978 World Cup qualifier in Helsinki, twice in a 4-3 England win over Denmark on September 20, 1978 in a 1980 Euro qualifier in Copenhagen, and twice in a 2-0 England win over Ireland on September 12, 1979 in a 1980 Euro qualifier at Wembley Stadium in London.
After his playing career, Keegan managed soccer. He was with Newcastle United, Fulham and Manchester City, and managed the English National Team.
