More stuff about Kevin Keegan
Bill Shankly's £35,000 swoop for Keegan from Scunthorpe in May 1971 proved one of the shrewdest transfer moves ever. He was signed as a midfielder and potential replacement for long-serving Ian Callaghan. But Keegan's sparkling display up front in a pre-season practice match persuaded Shankly to plunge him into his debut alongside John Toshack in attack at the start of the 1971-72 season.
Keegan scored after just 12 minutes, Liverpool beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 and another epoch in Anfield history had begun. The confident recruit, born in Armthorpe near Doncaster, hit big-time football like a whirlwind. He swiftly won England under 23 recognition with the first of 63 full caps coming within 18 months as he soared to pop star status.
His potent, trophy-capturing alliance with Toshack became feared throughout England and Europe before Keegan joined Hamburg for £500,000 in 1977, going on to become European Player of the Year twice. He scored 100 Liverpool goals and said farewell by helping to win their first European Cup with a 3-1 conquest of Borussia Moenchengladbach in Rome. Later he played for Southampton and Newcastle - whom he also managed - received an OBE and in 1999 became England manager.
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