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Kevin Keegan may not have been the best player ever to pull on a red and
white jersey of Southampton but he is arguably the most famous.
Certainly when Saints manager Lawrie McMenemy announced on February 10th
1980, at a specially convened press conference, that the current
European Footballer of the Year would be joining Southampton in the
summer there was widespread interest, not to mention shock, throughout
the footballing world and beyond. His signing made the opening story in
that evening's national news bulletins, while the Sun newspaper called
it 'the scoop of the century'. In Southampton itself there was almost
disbelief that a man of Kevin's pedigree was willing to come to their
'small and friendly little club'.
True the Saints were just beginning to
assert themselves in the top flight but few had appreciated just how
persuasive their manager could be and also how high his ambitions now
lay. McMenemy's charm had undoubtedly played a huge part in the signing
but Keegan - who could have joined any team he wanted in England - was
fond of a challenge and regarded Southampton as a club with potential
and an ideal place to relaunch his career in this country. It took a fee
of £400,000 to persuade Hamburg, his previous club, to let him leave.
Not the most naturally gifted of players Kevin more than compensated
with his speed, determination, fitness and intelligence and once he had
overcome an initial period of niggling injuries helped Saints qualify
for Europe in his first season. Keegan netted 11 goals in 27 League
games in that initial campaign with the Saints, including both goals in a
2-1 win at Stoke City. The next year Kevin positively sparkled as his
26 goals in 41 League outings helped Saints to lead the First Division
for a two-month period between January and March.
The goals flowed from
the word go for the England captain as he found the net in each of the
first 4 League games of the season. Kevin also netted 5 doubles during
the League campaign, including a brace in a 5-5 thriller against
Coventry City at the Dell in early May. Such form made it inevitable
that he would become the PFA player of the year and his infectious
passion for the game rubbed off on the likes of up and coming youngsters
such as Steve Moran, Danny Wallace and Mark Wright. While Saints topped
the table in that eight week period Keegan urged McMenemy to strenghen
what was, for a side to be leading the League, a small squad, but the
advice went unheeded and Southampton fell away to finish in 7th place.
Perhaps for this reason Keegan decided to leave during the following
summer and his departure to Newcastle, just a few days before the new
season was about to commence, soured not only his relationship with the
manager but also some of the club's season ticket holders. (Duncan Holley)
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