Kevin Keegan family: From teenage sweetheart wife Jean to singer daughter

FOLLOWING the sad passing of England and Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan at the age of 75 after a battle with stage four stomach cancer, tributes have poured in from across the sporting world. Known affectionately as “King Kev” and “Mighty Mouse,” the double Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed an iconic career as both a player and manager. Kevin Keegan leaves behind his beloved wife of 51 years, Jean Keegan Credit: PA Laura Jane (now 47) was born during the height of Keegan’s playing career while he was starring for Hamburg and winning back-to-back Ballon d’Or titles Credit: Getty Behind the fame, silverware, and unforgettable managerial moments, Keegan was above all a devoted family man. How many children did Kevin Keegan have? Kevin Keegan had two children with his wife, Jean: daughters Laura Jane and Sarah Marie. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Laura (now 47) was born in November 1978 during the height of Keegan’s playing career while he was starring for German side Hamburg SV and winning back-to-back Ballon d’Or titles. Sarah (44) was born in June 1982 at Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton, just before Keegan represented England at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Throughout his playing career at Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, and Newcastle United, Keegan was fiercely protective of his home life. Despite being one of the first superstar English footballers of the modern TV era, he kept his daughters out of the media spotlight to ensure they had as normal an upbringing as possible. Were his children aware of his football stardom? For much of their early childhood, Laura and Sarah had virtually no idea their father was one of the most famous athletes on Earth. When Keegan retired from playing professional football in 1984 at the age of 33, he made the deliberate decision to move his young family to Spain. Most read in Football Settling away from the scrutiny of the press, he wanted his daughters to grow up grounded and undisturbed by his celebrity. In a later interview, Keegan described moving to Spain as “the best decision I made in my life”. Living abroad meant his daughters grew up blissfully unaware of his iconic status, his European cups, or his place in football history. It was only when the family returned to the UK in the early 1990s as Keegan took over as manager of Newcastle United, that his daughters fully realised the scale of his legacy. But that quiet period in Spain instilled strong values, keeping the family exceptionally close-knit throughout his subsequent managerial career with Newcastle, Fulham, Manchester City, and England. Having grown up in Spain believing their father was simply a regular golfer, it’s perhaps unsurprising that neither of Keegan’s daughters pursued a career in football. Laura developed a passion for music and performing arts during the family’s years living abroad. She launched a career as a pop singer in the early 2000s, releasing tracks inspired by Spanish and Latino music from her childhood. In 2004, she previewed her Spanish-influenced debut single, ‘Come To Me’ at local venues in Tyneside. Following her early music releases, Laura chose to step back from public life. Sarah chose to stay completely out of the public eye. What other family has he left behind? Kevin Keegan leaves behind his beloved wife of 51 years, Jean Keegan (nee Woodhouse), alongside his two daughters and his grandchildren. Kevin and Jean’s relationship spanned more than five decades. The pair met as teenagers, on the waltzers at the St Leger fair in Doncaster in 1970 when Keegan was starting his career at Fourth Division Scunthorpe United. Anxious not to seem “too flash” – and aware that Jean had a crush on Manchester United‘s George Best – Keegan joked that he worked at a local steelworks to win her over. The couple married in September 1974 at St Peter in Chains Church in Doncaster, shortly after Kevin won the FA Cup with Liverpool as a 23-year-old, and remained together throughout his career and retirement. Outside of supporting Kevin’s career, Jean shared a passion for equestrian sports and horse racing. Jean and Kevin were longtime racehorse owners, achieving a major highlight in 2002 when their horse Funfair Wane won the Ayr Gold Cup. In a statement released by close family friend Peter Graves following his passing, the family confirmed that Kevin was surrounded by Jean and his daughters in his final moments. Describing him as a “much loved husband, father and grandfather,” the family thanked his medical team for their care and requested privacy during this difficult time. Comment now