Ex-Newcastle and England Manager Kevin Keegan Diagnosed with Cancer

Kevin Keegan, the former manager of Newcastle and England, has received a cancer diagnosis. The 74-year-old was hospitalized recently due to persistent abdominal issues, and subsequent tests confirmed the presence of the disease. He is set to undergo treatment. A statement released by Keegan's family stated, 'Kevin was admitted to the hospital for further evaluation of ongoing abdominal symptoms, which led to a cancer diagnosis. He will receive treatment and is grateful for the medical team's intervention and care.' The family has requested privacy during this challenging time and will not be making any further comments. Newcastle, the Premier League club Keegan previously managed and played for, shared the family's statement and expressed their support for him, saying, 'King Kev, we're with you every step of the way, hoping for a full and speedy recovery.' Keegan began his career at Scunthorpe before joining Liverpool in 1971 under Bill Shankly. During his time at Liverpool, he won three First Division titles, the FA Cup, two UEFA Cups, and the 1977 European Cup. Liverpool has also sent a message of support, stating, 'We at Liverpool Football Club and the official former players association Forever Reds send our best wishes to Kevin, his family, and friends.' Keegan was a two-time European Footballer of the Year during his time at Hamburg and later played for Southampton and Newcastle before retiring in 1984. He earned 63 caps for England, scoring 21 goals, and played in the 1982 World Cup. He also captained the national team. Keegan began his managerial career at Newcastle in 1992, guiding the team into the Premier League and nearly winning the 1995-96 title, only to be beaten by Manchester United. After leaving Newcastle in 1997, he had a brief stint at Fulham before becoming the England manager in 1999. Following a disappointing Euro 2000 campaign, Keegan resigned after a defeat to Germany at Wembley Stadium. He then managed Manchester City but left the club in 2005, initially announcing his retirement from football. Keegan made a return to Newcastle in 2008 but only lasted eight months due to tensions with the board and owner Mike Ashley.