FORMER England manager Kevin Keegan has been diagnosed with cancer.
The 74-year-old football legend was recently admitted to hospital after suffering with ongoing abdominal symptoms.
A Newcastle United spokesperson said: “Our former player & manager, Kevin Keegan will undergo treatment after being diagnosed with cancer having been admitted to hospital for further evaluation of ongoing abdominal symptoms.
“King Kev. We’re with you every step of the way. Hoping for a full and speedy recovery.”
A statement released by Kevin’s family read: “Kevin Keegan was recently admitted to hospital for further evaluation of ongoing abdominal symptoms.
“These investigations have revealed a diagnosis of cancer, for which Kevin will undergo treatment.
“Kevin is grateful to the medical team for their intervention and ongoing care.
“During this difficult time, the family are requesting privacy, and will be making no further comment.”
The Liverpool icon is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
He has won three First Division Championships, two UEFA Cups, one FA Cup and a European Cup in his playing career at Liverpool, and also won the Ballon d’Or twice – the only Englishman to ever achieve this.
As a manager, he is famous for his “I would love it if we beat them” rant at Sir Alex Ferguson as his Newcastle side threw away a 13-point lead and lost the Premier League title to Man Utd in 1996.
After quitting as Newcastle manager in 2008, the adopted Geordie vowed never to return to St James’ Park while Mike Ashley remained.
The former England boss spent two seasons on Tyneside as a player before so nearly landing the Magpies’ first league title since 1927 as manager in 1996.
Ashley brought him back in 2008 but they had a bitter falling-out, with Keegan insisting he would only go back to St James’ Park once the unpopular Sports Direct tycoon had gone.
Their feud came after Keegan took charge of Newcastle for a second time in 2008, but lasted only 22 games after falling out with Ashley over the club’s transfer policy.
He had previously managed the Magpies for five years between 1992-97, in what was their most successful spell in recent history.
Keegan, who scored 49 goals in 85 appearances for the club as a player, took them from the brink of relegation to the third tier to the Prem in just two seasons.
He then went on to lead the club to two consecutive second place finishes and a Uefa Cup quarter final, almost beating Manchester United to the title in 1996.
Keegan then took on managing England manager as the full-time replacement for Glenn Hoddle in 1999.
His first game in charge saw the Three Lions run out 3-1 winners over Poland in the Euro 2000 qualifying group.
The goals came via a hat-trick from Manchester United‘s Paul Scholes.
The midfielder’s feat was England’s first hat-trick from a player since Ian Wright scored four against San Marino in 1993.
Keegan’s teams included legendary players such as Alan Shearer as captain, David Beckham, Sol Campbell, Gary Neville and David Seaman.
He also handed debuts to Tim Sherwood and Ray Parlour.
England were only able to qualify for Euro 2000 via a playoff win over Scotland.
At the tournament, the Three Lions were unable to advance to the quarter-finals as they lost two of three group games.
Keegan resigned from the role in October 2000 after losing to Germany in their first 2002 World Cup qualifier.
That match was also the final game to be played at the old Wembley before it was rebuilt.
In 1991, the football icon was attacked while sleeping in his car next to the M25 in Surrey.
He was beaten unconscious with a baseball bat and robbed in the car park.
The pundit had stopped for a nap during a long drive back from his Spanish villa.
Keegan managed to flag down a passing motorist to call the police, and had to get four stitches on his scalp when he finally got to hospital.
The football legend, who has an OBE, is married to Jean, who he met at 19, and they share two daughters, Laura Jane and Sarah Marie.
“King Kev” married Jean in 1974, after meeting at a Doncaster fair in 1970.
Still a teenager, he approached her – but said she had a crush on Manchester United superstar George Best.
So he chose to lie and say he worked in steelworks as to not sound “too flash”.
Keegan won her over and they married in September 1974.
