Wembley Unites in Tribute to Kevin Keegan before England Face Spain

LONDON, England — Wembley Stadium paid tribute to Kevin Keegan before England’s Nations League match against Spain on Saturday, the first Three Lions fixture since his death on 20 July.

Keegan’s image was shown on the big screens. Supporters stood to applaud and chanted his name before kick-off. FA chair Debbie Hewitt laid a wreath. The match programme called him “King Kev… Special K, Mighty Mouse and the Messiah all rolled into one.”

The former England captain and manager died at 75. He won 63 caps and scored 21 goals after Sir Alf Ramsey gave him his debut against Wales in 1972. He was a back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner and played for Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle United.

He managed England from February 1999 to October 2000, taking the side to Euro 2000 via a play-off with Scotland and resigning after a 1-0 defeat to Germany in the last match at the old Wembley.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham had said in July that Keegan was an iconic figure who represented the Three Lions 91 times as player and manager. Liverpool and Newcastle had already honoured him at their Premier League meeting in August.

Saturday’s game ended 2-3 to Spain. The tribute came first: a packed Wembley remembering a player who, the programme said, only wanted to make supporters smile.