Liverpool Icon Kevin Keegan Labelled England Star 'the Best Player of His Generation'

 Kevin Keegan is one of the most iconic midfielders in English football history. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner is often overlooked in conversations about the greats of the engine room, but his achievements in the game speak for themselves.

After winning the English First Division three times, along with a European Cup and multiple domestic honours during his six-year spell at Liverpool, the ex-Three Lions international moved abroad to dominate on the continent. He was pivotal as Hamburg lifted the German top-flight title in 1979, with Keegan wrapping up his second Ballon d'Or crown in as many years.

He may be better known to modern fans as a respected manager. An impressive spell with Newcastle United saw Keegan come close to beating Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United to the Premier League title. After his time at St James' Park came to an end, he was handed the opportunity to manage his country. In this short-lived spell, Keegan led some of the finest players England has had in the past 25 years.

Keegan Managed 'the Best player of His Generation'

Fellow Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard was singled out for praise

While he was only at the helm of the national team from 1999 to 2000, he still had the honour of handing an England debut to a young Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool midfielder was rising towards being one of the best the Premier League has ever seen.

The man who was responsible for giving him his first international cap was full of praise for the Reds' hero upon his departure from Anfield in 2015. Keegan noted that he feels Gerrard was the finest player of his era. In an interview with beIN Sport (via The Mirror), the former England manager stated:

"I don’t think there’s any doubt in my mind that Steven Gerrard is the best player of his generation. I gave him his debut for England."

Gerrard may have never lifted the Premier League trophy during his almost two-decade career with his boyhood club, but he did match the number of top European prizes Keegan racked up at the club. He was sensational as Liverpool completed the greatest comeback in Champions League history against AC Milan in 2005.

Keegan was surrounded by world-class stars when he was ruling the roost over the red side of Merseyside, but Gerrard wasn't so fortunate. During his praise for his ex-player, the England legend added: "The sad thing that’s missing on Steven Gerrard’s CV is he's got hardly any trophies for all he gave Liverpool Football Club, and he gave them an awful lot.

"I feel so sorry for him that, in any other time in the previous years that he’d been at Liverpool, he would have won an awful lot of trophies.

"I think that’s the little part that will be a little bit of a regret for him."

Keegan's Managerial Prediction Didn't Work Out

'He will manage Liverpool within 10 years'

While waxing lyrical about Gerrard the player, Keegan predicted that the Scouser would be in the Anfield dugout within the next decade if he chose to pursue a career in management. As of 2025, 10 years on from Keegan's comments, the former midfield marvel appears further away than ever from achieving that dream. His former boss had claimed:

"He was just there at a time when Liverpool, for whatever reason, just weren’t competitive enough even though they had such a great player, and I honestly believe, I’m certain in fact, that if he wants to, he will manage Liverpool within 10 years."

Gerrard started off his time as a manager promisingly as he broke up Celtic's dominance in Scottish football by guiding Rangers to an unbeaten league triumph. A move to Aston Villa didn't do him any favours as Gerrard was sacked with Villa hovering just above the relegation zone. He's recently left his post as Al-Ettifaq manager after a less-than-fruitful spell in Saudi Arabia.