TV presenter Declan Donnelly has paid an emotional tribute to his “childhood hero” Kevin Keegan.
The former Newcastle United manager, who also played for the team for two years, died on July 20 aged 75 after a battle with stage four cancer.
Donnelly and his presenting partner Anthony McPartlin have paid tribute to Keegan, praising him as a “true legend to Newcastle United supporters” as they reminisced on what he meant to them.
Appearing on their podcast, Hanging Out With Ant And Dec, the duo opened the episode with a tribute to the football star who “meant so much to the people of the North East”.
“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,” Donnelly said.
The 50-year-old continued: “He signed for Newcastle United in 1982, which is when my eldest brother had started taking me to football.
“Him signing for Newcastle was huge news, and that started my rollercoaster love affair with Newcastle United and football.
“He was my childhood hero. When we got the news through last week, I was absolutely devastated.
“I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear.”
Donnelly, who is from Newcastle upon Tyne, added: “He just meant so much to the people of the North East.
“What he gave to us in his energy and enthusiasm and the hope he gave us for our football team.
“He just meant so much beyond football to the whole region. He was just such a special man.
“We were lucky enough to meet him on a couple of occasions.”
Donnelly, known for hosting shows such as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, also recalled meeting Keegan for the first time when he was a young boy after he won a competition.
He grew visibly emotional and said: “That was the best. They say you should never meet heroes, but he was absolutely the exception.”
“I shed a tear last week, and I shed another one this morning,” Donnelly added.
McPartlin also shared his sentiments about the football star, nicknamed “King Kev”, and said: “Words like legends and saviours get bandied around, but he did – he saved our club when he came back as manager.
“He’s a true legend of the game, and to Newcastle United supporters, and he will be missed.”
