Former Newcastle stars and staff return for emotional Kevin Keegan tribute before Liverpool clash

Newcastle United will host Liverpool on Sunday, marking the occasion with a heartfelt tribute to the club’s iconic former manager, Kevin Keegan, who passed away after battling stage-four cancer. Former players and staff, including Warren Barton flying in from the United States and Hartlepool manager Lee Clark, have been invited to attend the ceremony. They spoke of Keegan’s transformative tenure that lifted the team from near-relegation to the brink of a Premier League title and revitalised the city’s identity.

Memories ranged from a light-hearted training-ground race to a piggy-back stunt that left Keegan briefly hospitalized. Ex-physio Derek Wright described the moment he learned of Keegan’s death as “quite emotional.” The tribute will unfold before the match, honoring the legacy of the two-time Ballon d’Or winner at St James' Park.