Keegan death unites Liverpool and Hamburg – mayor

Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan became a “bridge between two great cities”, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has said in a letter written to the mayor of Hamburg.

Keegan, who died on Monday aged 75, left Liverpool FC in 1977 to join Hamburg SV. He was due to visit the German city with Rotheram for its annual Harbour festival, the mayor revealed.

In the letter Rotheram wrote that the cancer diagnosis meant the former England striker was unable to travel.

One of the most decorated English players of all time, winning the Ballon d’Or twice, he lifted seven major honours – including the club’s first European Cup on his final appearance. It was after this Keegan made the move to Germany.

In the letter, seen by Local Democracy Reporting Service, Rotheram said: “For one half of our football-mad city, Kevin was a footballing hero, for the other, a well-respected irritant on derby day.

“He was not just a Liverpool FC legend and one of the most beloved figures our city has ever known.

“When Kevin left our shores for Germany in 1977, he did more than make a then-record transfer between two football clubs. He built a bridge between two great cities.”

He said that Keegan’s success belonged equally to Liverpool and Hamburg where he was both “admired and loved”, adding, “To me, he embodied better than anyone else that famous maxim: football is the people’s game.”

Steve Rotheram has greying hair, a charcoal grey jacket and white shirt with checks. It is a head shot of him and the background behind him is purple. — Rotheram read a message from Keegan at Hamburg’s harbour festival in May [Claire Hamilton/BBC]

He also paid tribute to Keegan’s efforts to forge a relationship between the cities that “remains strong to this day” with his career celebrated as part of a special exhibition highlighting the links between Liverpool and Hamburg.

“As you may remember, Kevin wrote some words for me to convey to the large audience at the Liverpool City Region pavilion back in May,” Rotheram said.

He added: “Despite my pidgin German and broad Scouse accent, they received a warm response. Kevin may have left both cities many years ago, but he never truly left our hearts.

“He was intending to join us at your port anniversary celebrations – the Hafengeburtstag – until his cancer diagnosis changed his plans.

“He was devastated not to be attending, but he did provide me with a personal note that I felt honoured to read out on the Liverpool stage on the banks of the Elbe.”

Rotheram shared Keegan’s message to Hamburg in his letter to their Mayor, Dr Peter Tschentscher. He wrote: “In Kevin’s words, once again: Forgive my Plattdeutsch, but I love Hamburg.

“On behalf of the people of Liverpool, we send our deepest condolences to Kevin’s friends, the HSV family and the people of Hamburg. Thank you for loving him as we did. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

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