Kevin Keegan awarded Newcastle's highest honour

Keegan will become the first person to receive Newcastle's Freedom of the City posthumously, following his death in July aged 75.

Kevin Keegan, the legendary Newcastle United player and manager who died in July aged 75, is to be awarded Newcastle's highest honour — the Freedom of the City. He will be the first person to receive the award posthumously. The local authority had planned to award it earlier this year, but it was not formally agreed before his death, weeks after he revealed his cancer diagnosis.

Councillors will vote to approve the award at a special council meeting on 4 November. The city council said it would "serve as a lasting tribute to a man who meant so much to the city". Liberal Democrat leader Colin Ferguson noted the "enormous amount of tributes left outside St James' Park" following Keegan's death, describing the posthumous award as "a fitting tribute to everything he gave to our city".

Keegan joined Newcastle as a player in 1982, scoring 48 goals in 78 games and helping secure promotion back to the First Division. He returned as manager in 1992, leading the club to the Premier League with his famous Entertainers team that came close to winning the title. He will join other Newcastle sporting legends including Alan Shearer, Sir Bobby Robson, Jackie Milburn and Eddie Howe in receiving the Freedom of the City.