Declan Donnelly was overcome with emotion on the latest episode of his podcast with Ant McPartlin as he paid a heartfelt tribute to Kevin Keegan, the football icon who died earlier this month at the age of 75.
The Newcastle-born television presenter, 50, opened the Hanging Out With Ant And Dec podcast by reflecting on what the former Newcastle United player and manager meant to him and the wider North East community.
“I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear,” Mr Donnelly told listeners, before adding through visible emotion: “I shed a tear last week and I’m shedding another one this morning.”
He described Mr Keegan as his “childhood hero” and said he was “absolutely devastated” upon hearing the news.
Dec Donnelly became tearful as he talked about the late footballer
|
YOUTUBE – HANGING OUT WITH ANT AND DEC
Mr Donnelly explained that Mr Keegan’s arrival at Newcastle United in 1982 coincided with the period when his eldest brother first began taking him to matches, igniting what he called a “rollercoaster love affair” with the club and the sport.
“Kevin Keegan was the reason that I really got into football, he was the David Beckham of his day. He was the Lionel Messi and the Cristiano Ronaldo of the 70s and 80s,” he said.
The I’m A Celebrity presenter then recalled a cherished childhood memory of winning a competition to play football with Mr Keegan when he was around six or seven years old.
After fun games and refreshments, every child received an individual photograph with the star.
“He sat with each of us and put his arms around us,” Mr Donnelly said, growing visibly tearful.
“As a six-year-old boy that was just the best, meeting your hero. You know they say you should never meet your heroes, but he was absolutely the exception.”
Mr McPartlin, also 50, echoed his co-presenter’s sentiments about the man affectionately known as “King Kev.”
“Words like legends and saviours get banded around but he did. He saved our club when he came back as manager,” he reflected.
Ant and Dec both paid tribute to Kevin Keegan
|
GETTY“He’s a true legend of the game and a true legend to Newcastle United supporters and he will be missed. Love you, Kevin.”
The presenting duo also fondly remembered bumping into Mr Keegan at a kit launch held on the St James’ Park pitch.
According to Mr Donnelly, Mr Keegan spotted them posing for a photograph and insisted on joining in.
“He got right in the middle of us, got us both round the neck. He was like, ‘come on lads, have one with me.’ He was just the loveliest man,” Mr Donnelly recalled.
Ant and Dec talked about the late footballer
|
GETTY
Mr McPartlin then shared the photograph with podcast viewers, showing the pair in football shirts alongside Mr Keegan wearing a powder-blue jacket and tie.
Mr Keegan served two spells as Newcastle manager, from 1992 to 1997 and again in 2008, having previously played for the club between 1982 and 1984.
He also took charge of Fulham and the England national team during his managerial career.
Newcastle United released a statement following his death, describing him as “one of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club’s history.”
The club said: “Kevin was more than a legendary footballer and manager. He was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters.”
The statement added that Mr Keegan’s legacy would endure not through statistics but “in the memories he created with club and country, the dreams he inspired, and the generations of supporters around the world who fell in love with football because of him.”