Football icon Kevin Keegan, who passed away last week (July 20) at the age of 75, has received a heartfelt tribute from Declan Donnelly. After battling stage four cancer, Keegan, who managed and played for Newcastle United, sadly passed away.
Devoted Newcastle United supporters Donnelly and Ant McPartlin discussed the “very, very sad news” of Keegan’s passing and shared touching tales about his influence on their life in the most recent episode of their podcast, Hanging Out With Ant & Dec.
I became genuinely interested in football because of Kevin Keegan, who was the David Beckham of his time. He was the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of the 1970s and 1980s, Dec recalled.
In 1982, he joined Newcastle United, right after my oldest brother began accompanying me to football games. I became enamoured with Newcastle United and football as a result of his signing with Newcastle, which was enormous news.
Dec called Keegan his “childhood hero” and expressed how “absolutely devastated” he was to learn the news last week.
“He simply meant so much to the people of the North East,” he continued. “I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear.” What he provided us was his enthusiasm, energy, and hope for our football squad.
The broadcaster described him as “such a special man” who the two were “lucky enough to meet” on a few occasions and emphasised how much he meant “beyond football to the whole region.” He reminisced about winning a competition to play football with Keegan when he was younger, a memory he still cherishes.
The best was that. He was a complete exception to the rule that you should never encounter heroes, he said. “I shed a tear last week, and I shed another one this morning.”
“Words like ‘legends’ and ‘saviours’ get bandied around, but he did – he saved our club when he came back as manager,” McPartlin added in an homage to the football player.He is a genuine legend in the sport, and Newcastle United fans will miss him.
Following the passing of his “childhood hero,” Kevin Keegan, Declan Donnelly broke down in tears and acknowledged that the legendary football player was the reason he fell in love with both Newcastle United and the beautiful game.
On the most recent episode of the Hanging Out With Ant and Dec podcast, the 50-year-old TV host showed signs of emotion when honouring the former England manager and Newcastle legend.
After fighting stage four cancer, Keegan passed away on July 20 at the age of 75. According to his family, he was surrounded by his wife and daughters during his last moments.
Declan had always supported Newcastle, so the setback was very personal to him.
“I became really interested in football because of Kevin Keegan, who was the David Beckham of his time.” He was the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of the 1970s and 1980s, he claimed.
The host of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! recalls how football in the Northeast changed once Keegan moved to St. James’ Park in 1982.
My oldest brother began taking me to football games when he signed with Newcastle United in 1982.
“His signing with Newcastle was huge news, and that was the beginning of my crazy love affair with football and Newcastle United.” He was my boyhood idol. I was devastated when we received the news last week.
“I’m not embarrassed to admit that I cried.”
Declan described how Keegan’s influence went well beyond football, becoming more and more emotional as he spoke.
He remarked, “He simply meant so much to the people of the North East.”
What he provided us was his enthusiasm, energy, and hope for our football squad.
“He simply meant so much to the entire region beyond just football.” He was simply a unique man.
Declan also shared a treasured recollection of meeting Keegan when he was a little child following a tournament victory.
He remarked, “They say you should never meet heroes, but he was absolutely the exception.”
“Last week, I shed a tear; this morning, I shed another.”
As they discussed the immense legacy Keegan leaves behind, his long-time presenting colleague Anthony McPartlin, who also grew up rooting for Newcastle United, echoed the sentiment.
“He saved our club when he returned as manager, but words like legends and saviours are bandied around,” Ant remarked.
“He will be missed by Newcastle United supporters and is a true legend of the game.”
In addition to his playing career, Keegan’s legacy at Newcastle was cemented during his tenure as manager, where he oversaw the team’s return to the Premier League and assembled the daring team known as “The Entertainers.”