Kevin Keegan holds a special place in the history of European football. He won two consecutive Ballon d’Or awards and enjoyed a brilliant career at clubs such as Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle United, and the former English player also made his mark at San Mames. His legacy is now part of Athletic Club’s heritage, as a number of items linked to him are preserved at the AC Museum, where visitors can find out what connected one of the world’s greatest football stars to the ‘Cathedral’.
Kevin Keegan and Athletic Club: two memorable meetings at San Mames
The relationship between Kevin Keegan and Athletic Club was forged through two unforgettable chapters on the pitch in Bilbao. The first major encounter took place on 23 March 1982, when the English star took to the field at San Mames as captain of the England national team in a match held in honour of Txetxu Rojo. That thrilling match ended in a 1–1 draw, with Keegan demonstrating his goal-scoring instincts by scoring England’s only goal in the 37th minute, in response to Sarabia’s earlier goal, in front of a crowd that was cheering on both stars.
Years later, on 1 November 1994, the long-awaited reunion took place on the same pitch. This time on the bench, as manager of a brilliant Newcastle United side in the UEFA Cup round of 32, Keegan experienced the intensity of the ‘Cathedral’ on a magical European night. Having won 3–2 in the first leg in England, Athletic staged a historic comeback, winning 1–0 in Bilbao to seal their place in the next round thanks to the away goals rule. Far from making excuses, Keegan demonstrated his great sportsmanship at the end of the match by stating that they had been beaten by “eleven true Basque warriors”.
An icon of world football: from Anfield to the European elite
Keegan’s career as a footballer and manager was a vital part of the history of the beautiful game. Between 1971 and 1977, the striker reached the pinnacle of his career with Liverpool, scoring 100 goals and winning three English league titles, one European Cup, one FA Cup and two UEFA Cups. After moving to Hamburg SV in Germany, he honed his tactical skills and went on to win his two Ballon d’Or awards, before captivating the fans at Southampton and Newcastle United, a club with which he shared a symbiotic relationship that he would later carry over to the Premier League dugouts and the England national team.
Kevin Keegan’s milestones at San Mames and in football
- Tribute to Txetxu Rojo: Keegan’s goal as England captain (1-1)
- UEFA Cup Second Round (1994): a 1-0 win for the red and whites against Newcastle.
- Individual honours: two Ballon d`Or awards (1978, 1979) and a Liverpool legend.
His legacy is not measured solely in terms of trophies or statistics, but in the unanimous admiration of fellow professionals such as Alan Shearer and the respect of rival clubs. His lively, direct, committed style of football made Keegan an ethical role model whose values were perfectly in line with those of Athletic.
Historical treasures and living memory at the ‘Cathedral’
The memory of those epic nights and the mutual admiration between the English legend and the Basque fans are now part of the historical artefacts at the AC Museum. The permanent collection is physical evidence of his time in Bilbao, and gives visitors an insight into the international stature of San Mames as a stadium that has hosted the world’s greatest football stars. International recognition of the club’s heritage also extends to the global stage, as reflected in the presence of the AC Museum at the 2026 World Cup in the international exhibition section, spreading the history of Athletic to North America.
If you are a fan keen to relive the magic of those great European nights and see memorabilia of some of the stars who have graced the pitch in Bilbao, then why not plan a visit to the club’s facilities? You can purchase tickets for the AC Museum and get more details about the tour in advance by checking out the guide to visiting the Athletic Club Museum and the San Mames Tour. It is an unmissable opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of Kevin Keegan at the heart of the ‘Cathedral’.
