Newcastle pay touching tribute to late Kevin Keegan alongside Liverpool as family thank club

Newcastle pay touching tribute to late Kevin Keegan alongside Liverpool as family thank club Newcastle United and Liverpool paid tribute to the late Kevin Keegan ahead of their Premier League clash at St James' Park on Sunday, with the family of the legendary manager giving their thanks Newcastle United gave a heart-wrenching tribute to the late Kevin Keegan at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon ahead of their Premier League opener with Liverpool. The legendary former footballer and manager died at the age of 75 last month following a battle with cancer, with tributes pouring in across the world of sport. And given the Armthorpe-born icon represented the Magpies both as a player and a manager, as well as Liverpool during his playing days, the clubs felt it was only right that they afforded him an emotional send-off ahead of their first English top flight outing of 2026/27. On top of the players warming up in shirts adorned with Keegan's iconic number seven, 500 shirts were laid in a mosaic reading 'legend' and 'There's only one Kevin Keegan,' in the centre circle of the stadium. Bobby Moncur, Ian Rush, Shola Ameobi and Sir Kenny Dalglish also laid wreaths in the Newcastle memorial gardens ahead of Sunday's 4.30pm kick-off on Tyneside. A letter from Keegan's family was also included in the pre-match programme, in which fans were thanked for their support over an incredibly tough period. It read: "Dear Newcastle United fans and the incredible city of Newcastle. "The past couple of weeks have been some of the hardest that our family has endured, saying goodbye to our husband, father, and grandfather, Kevin. Despite living outside of the region, your love and warmth from the North East has reached our hearts and filled us with so much comfort during these difficult days. "The empathy, compassion and warmth of this extraordinary club and community have shone through; the outpouring of love has been truly overwhelming. Having seen the tributes outside St. James’ Park, members of our family came home to Newcastle to see the memorials in person. "The sea of black and white shirts and scarves, alongside colours from so many other clubs, reminded us how much Kevin meant to the footballing world. It was a sombre moment that reminded us of our pain and loss, yet matched with immense pride and love as we read so many personal and heartfelt messages. Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts. This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions. FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Newcastle United latest via the Chronicle’s dedicated Facebook page "Kevin always shared his love for Newcastle United, Geordies, and the city, captivating us with stories told with his infectious smile. Seeing these tributes brought those stories to life for Kevin’s grandchildren, showing them how deeply their grandfather was loved in return. "It also allowed us a quiet moment to reflect on many fond memories of Kevin’s incredible career and the incomparable bond he shared with Newcastle. Your football club, city, and community show a passion that truly embodied Kevin as a footballer, manager, and family man. "We will be eternally grateful for the adoration and strength you have given our family when we needed it most. Newcastle, thank you for your love. The Keegan Family." Placards were also left on seats around St James' Park for fans to hold up in the build-up to kick-off, adorned with instructions and the words "Long live the king." Wor Flags also provided a display of Keegan's name in red in the Liverpool section of Level Seven, while the number seven sat below among the home fans. The Newcastle-based organisation also erected a one-off tifo which showed a collage of Keegan from his time at Newcastle United as both a player and a manager, as well as the words "King Kev." Meanwhile, fans held banners in the stands, showing Keegan's iconic "we should all be dreamers message." A minute of applause was also given for Keegan as kick-off fast approached, with both sets of supporters, as well as the likes od Dalglish and Alan Shearer joining in. A two-time Ballon d'Or winner, Keegan kicked off his footballing career at Scunthorpe United in 1968, spending three years with the club before a move to Liverpool arrived. After spending six years with the Reds, he moved onto Hamburger SV, before returning to English soil with Southampton in 1980. Keegan arrived at St James' Park in 2982, enjoying a two-year stint with the club before seeing out the last year of his career at Blacktown City. In a trophy-laden playing career, Keegan won the First Division title with Liverpool three times, as well as the European Cup and a pair of UEFA Cups. He also won a Bundesliga title with Hamburg. Keegan then stepped into the world of management in 1992 with Newcastle, guiding the club to a First Division (now Championship) title in his maiden season. There will be more to follow on this breaking news story and Mirror Sport will bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video as soon as possible. Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story. Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. 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