June 3, 1977
Kevin Keegan completed his record-breaking £500,000 transfer to SV Hamburg yesterday – then took a swipe at the critics who have accused him of turning his back on England.
“I’m no traitor. I don’t care if people do say I’m running out on the old country,” said the former Liverpool star.
“I’m simply doing what I want to do – and that’s all that matters to me.
“If I had spent my life doing what others wanted me to do, I would not be where I am today.
“And if the truth were known all those who are having a go at me would do exactly the same thing if they got half a chance.
“Financially, this move has set me up for life. I’m getting more from Hamburg than I earned from ALL sources previously. I’d have to be mad to turn it down.
“And I did not move just for the money. Believe it or not, I had got into rut and needed a new challenge.”
The transfer was completed quietly in Room 116 on the first floor of London’s Holiday Inn hotel. All that went on afterwards was stunted for the benefit of the TV cameras.
Keegan will spend a week on holiday in Hamburg wit his wife Jean before making the move permanent by July 12, when he reports for training with his new team mates.
And he will face his former team mates three times next season. Hamburg and Liverpool meet in a friendly on August 3 and they also clash home and away in a “European Super Cup.”
(Daily Mirror: June 4, 1977)
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