CLUBS AND FANS PAY TRIBUTE TO FORMER NEWCASTLE UNITED PLAYER AND MANAGER KEVIN KEEGAN

Tributes have been paid to the former Newcastle United footballer and manager, Kevin Keegan, who has died at the age of 75.

In a statement, his family said: "It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75.

Keegan, who also played for and managed the England national team, had been battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments.

The family statement continued: "Kevin, a double Ballon D’or winner, was a much loved husband, father and grandfather. The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support.

"This is a hugely difficult time and they are requesting space and privacy."

The Newcastle United legend revealed he had cancer in January 2026, which later spread to stage four.

Kevin Keegan played for and managed Newcastle United.
Credit: PA

In 1992, Keegan made his first step into management at Newcastle, leading them into the Premier League and to within touching distance of the 1995-96 title, but they missed out to Manchester United.

A statement from Newcastle United called Keegan "the beating heart of the club for generations of supporters".

It said: "As a player, he brought world-class talent, ambition and belief to St. James’ Park, helping to transform perceptions of what Newcastle United could be.

"As a manager, he ignited our city. Kevin gave supporters hope and pride, and led a team whose style, spirit and passion captured the imagination of football fans around the world. He was so much more than an Entertainer.

"Above all that, Kevin forged an extraordinary bond with Newcastle, built on the roots of his father, Joe. He understood our people. He embraced the North East with a passion that was genuine and unwavering, and in return, he earned his rightful place in the hearts of millions.

"Kevin’s impact will not be measured by appearances or results. It will live on in the memories he created with club and country, the dreams he inspired wherever he went, and the generations of supporters around the world who fell in love with football because of him.

"At this profoundly sad time, we send our love and deepest sympathy to Kevin’s wife Jean, his family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.

"Today, we mourn the loss of a true giant of our history, and at the appropriate moment, we will carefully consider how we shape a lasting tribute to Kevin’s remarkable life and legacy.

"Rest in peace, King Kev."

Alan Shearer paid tribute to his hero and friend Kevin Keegan following the death of his former Newcastle manager at the age of 75.

Keegan was in charge at St James’ Park when the club paid a then world-record fee of £15million to sign Shearer in 1996.

“My Hero. My manager. My friend. Sleep easy Boss,” Shearer wrote on X.

After leaving St James’ Park in January 1997, a brief stint at Fulham followed before he became England manager in 1999 following Glenn Hoddle’s departure.

After overseeing a disappointing Euro 2000 campaign, Keegan resigned on the back of defeat by Germany at Wembley, the last match at the national stadium before it was rebuilt.

A spell at Manchester City followed and then an emotional return to Newcastle in 2008, but he only lasted eight months at St James’ Park following tensions with the board and owner Mike Ashley.

On the international stage, he scored 21 goals in 63 England appearances and played at the 1982 World Cup finals.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:

“Kevin Keegan brought joy to so many of us in the North East and across the world. It is hard to believe someone with so much energy and passion is no longer with us.

"King Kev fought such a brave battle against cancer, and while today we will all mourn his passing, we should also find room to celebrate with a smile everything he achieved.”

- itvX

PRINCE WILLIAMS GETS HANDS ON EUROPA LEAGUE TROPHY AS HE CELEBRATES ASTON VILLA'S HISTORIC WIN

Future King emotional at final whistle as he witnesses his beloved Aston Villa win their first major trophy in 30 years

An ecstatic Prince William holds onto the Europa League trophy as he celebrates Aston Villa’s historic Europa League victory.

The future King, who is a huge Villa fan, was pictured last night with his hands on the trophy alongside the club’s manager Unai Emery.

PRINCE WILLIAM AND UNAI EMERY POSED FOR PHOTOS TOGETHER WITH THE EUROPA LEAGUE TROPHY
ASTON VILLA

It comes after photos showed William looking emotional as Villa clinched claimed their first major silverware in 30 years - and a first European title since 1982.

The Prince of Wales attended the Europa League final in Istanbul on Wednesday evening where his beloved Villa won 3-0 against German side Freiburg.

After the victory William erupted into cheers and celebrated with friends who had watched the game alongside him. He appeared to wipe away tears.

CAMERASPORT VIA GETTY IMAGES

WILLIAM CELEBRATES ASTON VILLA’S VICTORY WITH HIS FRIENDS
GETTY IMAGES

It was Villa’s first major European final since the prince was born, their first silverware since the League Cup in 1996 and a first continental trophy since the European Cup in 1982.

After the match, Kensington Palace published the Prince of Wales’ message to the team: “Amazing night!!

“Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!”

The prince added: “Special shout out to Boubacar Kamara who has been out injured but is such an integral part of our team and helped lay the foundations of this success.”

Midfielder Kamara has been absent since suffering a knee injury earlier this year.

After lifting the trophy, Villa captain John McGinn said that William, who has followed the club since he was a schoolboy, met the players before kick-off.

“He is a classy guy,” McGinn told TNT.

“He was in the dressing room before the game. He is a massive Villa fan so he was never going to miss it.

“He is just a normal guy. It’s great to have his support and hopefully it continues and tonight he can have a couple of drinks with us and maybe get his credit card out at the end of the night.”

During the final, Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia each scored a goal at the end of the first half.

Morgan Rogers then added a third in the 58th minute, sparking jubilant scenes at the final whistle.

Striker Ollie Watkins revealed the secret to Villa’s triumph following the match.

A trophy parade is due to take place in Birmingham later on Thursday.

- MATT WATTS

LE MANS SET FOR FORD V FERRARI 2 - ONCE AGAIN IT'S PERSONAL

Two of racing's biggest rivals are on collision course once more, with the Ford v Ferrari battle for overall Le Mans victory due to resume in 2027 after six decades — and Ford is already talking up the fight

 "So, more good news in the world of sports car racing this week. Ford has sprung a happy splurge of fresh headlines in confirming its return to Le Mans in 2027, in an all-out attack for its first overall win since 1969.

Ford v Ferrari battle of the 1960s spawned a Hollywood film. Now comes the second round

That’s 10 manufacturers in the top tier if we still count wound-licking Lamborghini, with possibly McLaren still to come. It really is the golden era that keeps on giving.

It is wonderful news to welcome Ford back to the top level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in almost 60 years,” gushed ACO president Pierre Fillon. Woah, hold your (prancing) horses! What about the Group C Ford C100 of 1982? Inconvenient history, given how ill-starred that campaign proved. Details, details… Far better to sweep that one away, while also overlooking the Cosworth DFV-powered victories of 1975 (Mirage) and ’80 (Rondeau) too.

- Damien Smith

ARMANI'S DEATH LEAVES MANY IN THE SPORTS WORLD TO PONDER AND PRAISE HIS LEGACY

 

An image of the late Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani is shown on the jumbotron during the warm up ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I qualification football match between Italy and Estonia at the Stadio di Bergamo, in Bergamo, on September 5, 2025. (AFP)

Pat Riley first met Giorgio Armani in Milan in 1982, when the Italian designer told the then up-and-coming coach that he could make him beautiful suits.

Armani delivered. Riley was hooked.

“A navy blue Gable Classic,” Riley, now president of the Miami Heat, recalled Friday. “I have never worn anything else since then.”

Riley — a trendsetter in bringing high-end fashion to NBA sidelines — spent almost the entirety of his Hall of Fame coaching career wearing Armani, and he is one of many voices from around the sports world to offer memories in response to the iconic designer's passing. Armani died Thursday at the age of 91.

At the European basketball championships, Italy's national team played Thursday just hours after the news was announced. Much of Italy coach Gianmarco Pozzecco's pregame remarks before his squad faced Cyprus revolved not around the opponent, but Armani.

“This suit?” Pozzecco said afterward, tugging on the lapel of his jacket. “It's Armani.”

Like Riley, Pozzecco knew the designer. To wear the Armani brand, he said, is not only a source of personal pride — but one that is shared by all Italians.

Italy played Thursday with a black band on their uniforms to mourn Armani's death.

“Everybody in Italy loves him and I said to the players before the game that we have to play in the memory of Mr. Armani,” Pozzecco said. “I knew him personally. ... He makes all Italians feel proud, because of him.”

NBA star Russell Westbrook, a designer himself and one of the most fashion-savvy players in the league, paid tribute to Armani on Friday in his periodic newsletter. Westbrook often discusses fashion in his newsletters, sharing some trends that he's particularly fond of at a given time.

“Mr. Armani never stopped innovating, rewriting the rules of the suit for both men and women, and making his looks the most striking thing on any red carpet,” Westbrook wrote. “He really helped redefine elegance with timeless tailoring and understated luxury. In honor of him, stick to clean lines in order to elevate your look — elevating is what Armani always did.”

Armani was a regular attendee at basketball and soccer games all over Europe, had ties to some top clubs in both sports, had been an Olympic torchbearer and even was involved in outfitting Italian Olympic teams — including the uniforms they'll wear at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Games this coming winter.

He also had a passion for the Special Olympics, which paid tribute with a statement saying, “Giorgio Armani understood how the worlds of fashion and sport often intersected.”

“From designing uniforms for our Special Olympics athletes and featuring them on holiday cards, through to his fundraising leadership at our 2025 Winter World Games in Italy, Giorgio supported Special Olympics for over four decades,” the organization said. “His impact on our movement will last for generations.”

Riley called him “an absolute giant.”

“A true talent and once in a generation person that will never be equaled,” Riley wrote in a statement from himself and his wife, Chris. “Giorgio has inspired so many in the fashion world and has left big footprints to follow. What a legacy.

- Asharq Al-Awsat

DINO ZOFF | GOALKEEPER QHO HAS CONCEDED LESS GOALS IN FOOTBALL HISTORY

The goalkeeper who has concededed less goals in football history is Dino Zoff! He holds an incredible record of 1,142 minutes without conceding a goal in selection, set between 1972 and 1974. This is really impressive!

Dino Zoff is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time. He won the World Cup with Italy in 1982 and was European Champion with Juventus. He is also the oldest World Cup winner, having lifted the trophy at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days 1.2.

Other goalkeepers also have impressive records, such as Peter Shilton who has played 125 games for England without conceding a goal, or Iker Casillas who has won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid. But Dino Zoff remains the least goalkeeper in football history 1-2!

ICELAND'S FIRST CHESS GRANDMASTER HAS PASSED AWAY AT 90

Fridrik Olafsson, Iceland’s first Grandmaster and the fourth President of FIDE, has sadly passed away aged 90. 

A six-time national champion and two-time Nordic Chess Champion, he led the global chess body from 1978 to 1982. Our condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.

Fridrik Olafsson (1935-2025) - Obituary: https://www.fide.com/fridrik-olafsson-1935-2025/

PRINCE WILLIAM'S FOUR-WORD RESPONSE TO REPORTERS AFTER NIGHT OUT

The Prince of Wales attended Aston Villa's latest match

Getty

The Prince of Wales was seen punching the air after watching Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League quarter-final.

Prince William, 42, watched his beloved football team secure a 3-0 victory against Belgian side, Club Brugge, at Villa Park in Birmingham on Wednesday.

And the future King appeared to confirm that he'll be there to support the club as Villa face French side Paris Saint-Germain in the next round.

He told journalists, "See you in Paris" as he walked to his car after the match.

William was joined in the stands by his childhood friend and property mogul, Thomas van Straubenzee, who is godfather to the Prince's daughter, Princess Charlotte.

It is the first time Villa have been in the Champions League and they are targeting the club's first top-flight European trophy since they won the European Cup in 1982 – the year William was born.

The Prince has passed down his love of football to his children, with Prince George also an avid Aston Villa fan.

William and Kate took George and Charlotte to watch their first Villa match as they played Norwich City at Carrow Road in 2019.

The day before their match on Tuesday, William watched the squad in training from the sidelines and speaking with players Morgan Rogers and Matty Cash, before a public engagement at Sporting Khalsa FC in Willenhall, West Midlands.

The Prince visited the Club to learn more about its referee training course, part of the FA's Reflective and Representative campaign, which aims to recruit 1,000 people from black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds into refereeing roles.

William joined participants as they learned about fouls, whistle tones and flag signalling.

The royal has been patron of the FA since last summer, having previously held the role as President since 2006.

William's passion for the beautiful school goes back to his school days, with the Prince talking about his earliest memories of playing football on COPA90's Game of 5s episode in 2022.

Speaking to England players Harry Kane and Declan Rice, he said: "I was a defender, like these guys, I was stuck in the back and told to just tackle, safety in the back, don't put him in the front!"

He later added: "Quite a strong memory of early days was donning an England shirt and going down the pub with my mates and watching England play in big tournaments."

"When Wayne Rooney appeared on scene, that was a big moment for me growing up.

"There was something very powerful, really interesting about how Wayne played and the steel he brought to the England team."

- Danielle Stacey

HUBIE BROWN BIDS FAREWELL TO 'FANTASTIC RIDE' IN FINAL BROADCAST

The 91-year-old former coach calls his last game Sunday after 35 seasons behind the mic, including 18 NBA Finals.

Brown has been with ESPN since 2004. / Justin Ford-Imagn Images

Hubie Brown received tributes from across the NBA community as the former coach and longtime broadcaster headed into retirement after spending more than half a century in pro basketball.

The 91-year-old Brown called his final game Sunday as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 135-127. He was awarded the game ball after the final horn sounded.

“I have so many things to be thankful for, but my family and I can never thank everyone enough,” Brown said at the end of the telecast. “We just want to send them the love that I’ve seen today right back with a big hug. It was a fantastic ride.”

Players from both teams approached him before the game to shake his hand. He received a standing ovation during the opening timeout as a video honoring him aired on the Fiserv Forum scoreboard. Brown responded by blowing kisses to the crowd and mouthing “Thank you.”

Brown indicated he almost cried as that video aired.

He considered it fitting that he was in Milwaukee for his final game as a broadcaster. His first NBA coaching job was as an assistant with the Bucks on Larry Costello’s staff, a two-season stint that began in 1972.

“When I came here to the Milwaukee Bucks and Larry Costello, I received a master’s degree and a doctorate’s degree in basketball in two years,” Brown said at the start of Sunday’s telecast.

That launched an illustrious career on the bench and behind a microphone.

Brown coached 15 seasons with the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels (1974-76) and NBA’s Atlanta Hawks (1976-81), New York Knicks (1982-87) and Memphis Grizzlies (2002-05). He won an ABA title with Kentucky in 1975 and was voted the NBA Coach of the Year in 1978 and 2004.

He spent 35 years as a national TV and radio analyst, covering 18 NBA Finals. Brown was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005.

“I’m sure he’s seen so much growth and so much change not only in the game of basketball but in the league,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard said after the game. “It’s come so far in a lot of ways, and I think that obviously you’re going to have the commissioners and you’re going to have players come along, but I think it’s the people who love on the game and love the league and the contributions that come from people like Hubie Brown is what has allowed it to become what it is, is what makes it special.”

Mike Breen, the play-by-play broadcaster for Sunday’s game, called it the “ultimate honor” to have Brown as a colleague. Breen spoke for other play-by-play broadcasters who worked alongside Brown by saying “you’ve been like a father to many of us, our NBA father.”

“Could we pause, as I have a tear here,” Brown replied.

ABC started its Sunday telecast by showing footage of Brown’s very first NBA broadcast, a 1981 game airing on USA Network. NBC’s Mike Tirico, Brown’s former broadcast partner, joined the telecast remotely to pay his respects late in the first quarter.

During breaks in the telecast, ABC showed highlights from Brown’s coaching and broadcasting career along with testimonials from various NBA figures.

“You brought so much passion to every telecast,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said during one of those breaks. “You took great joy in teaching the finer points of basketball.”

Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse presented Brown with a tiny replica of the Liberty Bell in the green room before the game. Bucks assistants wore a T-shirt with the message “Thank You Hubie” and a heart during pregame warmups.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game that Brown remains one of the former coaches he often seeks out for advice.

“He was one of my first calls all the time and still is when things are rough or I’m trying to figure out something to me that’s complicated,” Rivers said.

Rivers said he often sought Brown’s counsel in those situations because he figured there wasn’t any kind of situation that the longtime coach and broadcaster hadn’t encountered at some point in over a half-century in professional basketball.

Bucks veteran center Brook Lopez made sure to talk to Brown before the game and say how much the former coach and broadcaster had meant to the NBA.

“That was one of my real first, real cool ‘welcome to the league’ experiences, was having him call one of my games and to see him in person, get to meet him, hearing he was a fan of me and my game, appreciated my game,” Lopez said. “He’s always had good tips for me. He’s still coaching, even though he’s commentating. It’s in his DNA and in his blood, trying to help players get better.”

As the Bucks prepared for Sunday’s game, Rivers asked the youngest players on the roster what they knew about Brown. When they weren’t aware of Brown’s accomplishments, Rivers got Lopez to offer a primer.

“He gave a very impressive history run on Hubie and even knew the reason his last game was in Milwaukee is because this is where it all started, with him and Larry Costello,” Rivers said.

Brown said that’s what made it so appropriate to finish his career in Milwaukee.

“For me to end it here is very meaningful because I learned so much here,” Brown said.

- Nba.com Staff

DAVID BECKHAM AMONG MOURNERS

The funeral of Sven-Göran Eriksson, the first foreign manager to coach the England national team, was held on Friday in the small Swedish town of Torsby where he grew up before embarking on an illustrious career at the pinnacle of European football.

A soft-spoken but determined coach, Eriksson guided teams in Sweden, Portugal and Italy, winning major trophies in the 1980s and 1990s before taking on the England job in 2001, managing stars such as David Beckham, who was among the attendees at the service.

Eriksson announced in January that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer and spent much of the following months reconnecting with many of the places and people central to his career before he died last month.

He fulfilled his dream of managing Liverpool, after leading the club in a charity legends game against Ajax at Anfield in March.

The funeral took place in Torsby, a rural town of less than 5,000 people near the border with Norway, and was attended by several hundred people inside the church.

Some 200 seats in the neo-Gothic church from 1898 were reserved for his family, friends and players from his career in the football world, according to his agent. The remaining seats were open for the public, according to Eriksson's wish

Others followed the service on a big screen set up outside and the funeral was given blanket coverage by Swedish media.

The wooden coffin was wheeled in by pallbearers at the church Friday morning. Next to the casket was a photo of Eriksson on a small table. The floral wreaths included ones sent by FIFA and Lazio, the Italian team that Eriksson led to the Serie A title in 2000.

Others attending the funeral included the Swedish coach's longtime partner Nancy Dell'Olio.

Tributes flowed in from prime ministers, clubs and former players following the news of his death while national teams including England and Sweden played with black arm bands during the the September international break.

Eriksson, known in Sweden simply as "Svennis," led England to the 2002 and 2006 World Cup quarterfinals, and to the 2004 European Championship, managing a golden generation of players that besides Beckham included stars such as Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.

He began building his international reputation when he guided Swedish club IFK Gothenburg to the UEFA Cup in 1982 and went on to win silverware as coach of Portugal's Benfica and Italian clubs Roma, Fiorentina, Lazio and Sampdoria.

Unable to end England's trophy drought, he left the helm of the national side in 2006, going on to coach Manchester City and Leicester City as well as Mexico and Ivory Coast and clubs in China and Philippines.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.

- 

YANKEES' 'LOOSING STEAK HIT NINE', LONGEST SINCE 1982

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NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees extended a losing streak to nine for the first time in 41 years when Tommy Kahnle allowed a go-ahead homer to CJ Abrams with two outs in the eighth inning in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

Winless since beating the Marlins on Aug. 11 in Miami, the Yankees are on their first nine-game skid since Sept. 13-21, 1982 -- the final month of a 79-win season when they employed three managers (Bob Lemon, Gene Michael and Clyde King). New York has been outscored 53-20 and has not held a lead since the second inning of its 11-3 loss in Atlanta on Aug. 14.

MICHAEL JORDAN’S GAME WINNING SHOT VS. GEORGETOWN | 1982 NCAA TOURNAMENT FINAL