Liverpool's message to Hamburg after Kevin Keegan's death

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NewsLiverpool NewsLiverpool FCKeegan left Merseyside for Germany in 1977 and formed a bond between the two citiesLiverpool legend Kevin Keegan became a “bridge between two great cities” and had been due to return to the city he left the Reds for to celebrate the ties he had created. 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.”The mayor said Keegan’s success belong equally to Liverpool and Hamburg where he was both “admired and loved.” Mr Rotheram added: “To me, he embodied better than anyone else that famous maxim: football is the people’s game.”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. 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.”Mr Rotheram shared Keegan’s message to Hamburg in his letter to their mayor, Dr Peter Tschtscher. 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.