Keegan's rise from Anfield dustbin to superstardom

[Getty Images] Kevin Keegan, who has died aged 75 , was one of football's most charismatic and influential figures in a career of many chapters that took him from superstar player to elite manager. While some may remember him best for his ill-fated reign as England manager, he will rightly be much more celebrated as a world-class player at Liverpool and Hamburg, captaining England, and shining latterly at Southampton and Newcastle United , before becoming arguably the most beloved figure in the Tyneside club's history. Keegan's career was a reflection of himself. He was hugely gifted, honest, decent, hard-working and emotional. There were highs and lows, but the positivity and vibrancy he brought made him a cherished figure. Born in Armthorpe near Doncaster, Keegan came to Liverpool manager Bill Shankly's attention when playing more than 100 games for Scunthorpe United, sitting on a bin outside Anfield while the Iron's legendary Scottish boss Ron Ashman finalised one of the all-time great bargains as the 20-year-old was transferred for £35,000 in 1971. Keegan was regarded by some observers as simply a hard-working player who made himself great through sheer grit and determination. The initial assertion was correct, but he was much more than that. Shankly, not one to knowingly undersell his players, told Keegan within a fortnight of arriving at Liverpool that he would play for England. The new signing scored on his Liverpool debut on the opening day of the 1971-72 season against Nottingham Forest at Anfield, a scruffy finish set up by John Toshack. It was the start of a beautiful football relationship with Liverpool as well as with the Welshman. Their almost telepathic partnership - a classic "big man, little man" combination - was even put to the test on television. They gelled to such an extent that Granada TV's groundbreaking Friday magazine show Kick Off had Keegan and Toshack sitting back to back, trying to guess the colour and shape of a card the other was holding. Such was their success rate some thought telepathy actually was at work - but the pair later revealed there was a mirror in the studio and they could see the other's cards. Read Keegan's obituary here