'An indomitable spirit' - Simon Jordan gives Newcastle United legend Kevin Keegan emotional pep talk
Kevin Keegan’s cancer diagnosis was made public before Newcastle United’s win over Leeds United yesterday.
Simon Jordan has backed Kevin Keegan to face his cancer battle with “indomitable spirit” following yesterday’s announcement.
Just hours before Newcastle United faced Leeds United, one of St James’ Park’s favourite sons revealed an ongoing health battle. A family statement confirmed Keegan - now requesting privacy from the public - will undergo treatment for cancer.
His name echoed around the Cathedral on the Hill last night as the Magpies paid the ultimate tribute with a thrilling 4-3 win. Eddie Howe led the show of support to Keegan at the full-time whistle.
Eddie Howe leads Kevin Keegan support
"The team Keegan created was truly special and it is still talked about,” a statesman-like Howe told reporters. “We are always trying to be that team and entertain. That was us at our thrilling best. The news before the game shook us all.
“He is such an inspirational figure. One of the first things I did when I took the job was to ring him and speak to him to try and get an understanding of what the job was going to look like and what I needed to do. He was unbelievable with his time and insight. I’ve been lucky enough to meet him a couple of times in different scenarios. He’s always been so king, gracious, giving and humorous.
“His stories… I could listen to for a long time. I think he’s brilliant and, when the news comes today that someone like Kevin who has this zest for life that will never go (is ill), it brings back that everyone is human. We really feel for him and hope he is going to be ok."
Simon Jordan gives Kevin Keegan pep talk
Former Crystal Palace owner Jordan - who battled prostate cancer in 2023 - has given Keegan a pep talk that he can get through this. He told talkSPORT: “I grew up with Kevin Keegan as one of my heroes. I remember watching the 1977 European Cup final between Liverpool and Borussia Monchengladbach, and watching Keegan, and being almost, not that I was a Liverpool fan, I was a Palace fan, but being distraught to hear that Kevin Keegan was going to Hamburg.
“You see this man's career, and it's an iconic career in so many ways, being European Footballer of the Year twice (and) making moves that people never felt were conventional moves. He didn't make conventional moves. He went from Hamburg to Southampton.
“And then ends up at a lowly Newcastle (as a player) and ends up going back to them (as a manager). He scored lots of goals at Newcastle, comes in, lands in a helicopter and leaves in a helicopter. He goes on and manages Newcastle, produces this wonderful team, that wonderful outburst (in 1995-96), was part of Fulham's recreation with Mohamed Al-Fayed, goes to Man City, manages England, and all that goes with him.
“Listen, he's got a battle on his hands. But this is not a death sentence. He's not dead. He has a challenge and he will approach it, I suspect, as he's approached everything in his life, with an indomitable spirit and be able to overcome it. You see the football celebrations last night, in terms of celebrating him, the fans singing his name and lionising him because he did so much at Newcastle.”
Simon Jordan on Kevin Keegan stardom
On Keegan’s global stardom as a player, Jordan added: “I grew up watching him on Superstars, when Superstars was the iconic programme in the 70s and 80s, with Brian Jackson, Jack Capes, and Kevin Keegan. He was a global star before you had this situation where football had become such an immense currency.
“The Brut adverts, the hairpins… everything Kevin Keegan did, had some degree (of stardom). Even the boots, I grew up as a kid, wanting the Patrick Keegan boots, because they were the first sort of branded boots that people were really alighting upon. I hope he's fine. I'm sure he will be, I wish him well.”