KEVIN KEEGAN (1951-2026)

Dunia telah kehilangan seorang legenda dan ikon bola sepak, Kevin Keegan, yang telah meninggal dunia selepas bertarung dengan kanser tahap empat.

Dikenali dengan gelaran “Mighty Mouse”, Keegan dianggap sebagai salah seorang pemain terhebat England dengan kerjaya yang cemerlang bersama kelab-kelab seperti Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, dan Newcastle.

Keegan juga pernah memainkan peranan dalam bola sepak Malaysia. Bekas kapten pasukan England yang sinonim dengan jersi No. 7 telah menerima undangan Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) pada tahun 1984 untuk membimbing dan bermain bersama pasukan pelapis kebangsaan, Harimau Malaysia.

Ini adalah sebahagian daripada usaha FAM untuk mengembalikan kegemilangan Pestabola Merdeka dan menarik penonton ke stadium dan menyokong pasukan kebangsaan, serta pasukan muda. Pada Pestabola Merdeka 1984, Keegan berjaya menjaringkan kedua-dua gol dalam perlawanan pembukaan menentang Pakistan, di mana Harimau Malaysia menang 2-0.

Namun, itu bukan kali pertama Keegan berkunjung ke Malaysia. Pada tahun 1981, Keegan dengan kelabnya Southampton menentang Kuala Lumpur All Stars dalam perlawanan persahabatan di Stadium Merdeka. Walaupun Southampton mengalahkan KL All Stars 4-0, ia merupakan pengalaman mesra yang berbaloi bagi kedua-kedua pasukan. Keegan turut bertukar jersi dengan No. 7 Malaysia, G. Torairaju, selepas perlawanan.

Semoga segala pencapaian dan pengorbanan Kevin Keegan diingati serta dijadikan inspirasi kepada generasi muda dan yang akan datang.

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The world has lost a football legend and icon, Kevin Keegan, who passed away after battling stage four cancer.

Nicknamed “Mighty Mouse”, Keegan was regarded as one of England’s greatest players with an illustrious career playing for clubs such as Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, and Newcastle.

Keegan has also played a part in Malaysian football. The former English captain who is synonymous with the No. 7 jersey accepted an invitation of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in 1984 to mentor and play alongside the national second team, Malaysian Tigers.

This was part of FAM’s efforts to bring back the glory of the Merdeka Tournament and attract spectators to the stadium and support the national team, as well as its developing team. At the 1984 Merdeka Tournament, Keegan scored both goals in the opening match against Pakistan, where Malaysian Tigers won 2-0.

That was not the first time Keegan played in Malaysia. In 1981, Keegan and his club Southampton played against Kuala Lumpur All Stars in a friendly match at Merdeka Stadium. Although Southampton defeated KL All Stars 4-0, it was a warm and worthwhile experience for both teams, with Keegan exchanging his jersey with fellow No. 7, G. Torairaju after the match.

May all of Kevin Keegan’s successes and sacrifices be remembered and become an inspiration for the young as well as generations to come.