PETALING JAYA: Kevin Keegan may have been one of England’s greatest footballers, but the late legend also left a lasting impression on Malaysian football during his month-long stint with Harimau Malaya in 1984.
Keegan, who died on Monday at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer, was invited to Malaysia as both a player and mentor ahead of the Merdeka Tournament and the national team’s Olympic qualifying campaign.
Former Malaysian international Azlan Johar, who was part of the 1984 squad, still cherishes the memories of training and playing alongside the former England captain.
According to Azlan, the idea of bringing Keegan to Malaysia came from the late Datuk Harun Idris and Datuk Seri Paul Mony Samuel.
“Our team were very strong then and they wanted Keegan to train with us as part of our preparations for the Olympic qualifiers. The year before, George Best had also joined us for the 1983 Merdeka Tournament,” said Azlan.
Despite Keegan’s status as one of the world’s biggest football stars, Azlan said the Englishman was remarkably humble and approachable.
Thanks to his fluency in English, Azlan quickly struck up a friendship with Keegan during the training camp.
“I still remember the first time I joked with him. It was our first training session at the Tamilian Physical Cultural Association (TPCA) Stadium, now known as Stadium Jalan Raja Muda.
“Everyone introduced themselves using their Malay names, but when it was my turn, I said, ‘I’m Alan.’ He smiled and replied, ‘Oh, that’s nice!’ From then on, he always called me Alan.
“We became close because I had always admired him. Even though I’m a Manchester United supporter, he was an incredible player. Every morning at breakfast, I would sit with him. He shared stories about his life and career, and I would ask him all sorts of questions,” he said.
Azlan also recalled that, despite coming from a country famous for its tea, Keegan developed a liking for Malaysian iced tea.
“One night after training, around 8pm, he called my room at the Federal Hotel. I was sharing with Farizul Kassim.
“He said, ‘Azlan, can I see you? I want to take you out.’ When I went to his room, he was with his wife and two daughters. He told me he had asked coach Abdullah Ali for permission to take me out around Kuala Lumpur.
“He wanted to experience somewhere that was ‘really Malaysian’ and unlike anywhere else in the world. So I took them to “Benteng” behind Campbell Complex, where there were food stalls and hawkers. We travelled by taxi and he absolutely loved the atmosphere,” said Azlan.
One thing that surprised Azlan was Keegan’s fondness for Malaysian iced tea despite coming from a nation synonymous with tea.
“He loved the roti canai there and kept asking for iced tea. From that day on, he would ask me to join him for iced tea every day. He really enjoyed the atmosphere and the whole experience,” added Azlan.
During the 1984 Merdeka Tournament, Malaysia fielded two teams, with Keegan representing Harimau Malaya. He scored twice in a 2-0 win over Pakistan before Malaysia also beat Algeria Under-20 2-0, drew 1-1 with Primera B XI and China B, and lost only to South Korea Under-23.
Although Keegan’s stay with the national team lasted only a month, Azlan said the former Liverpool striker left a lasting impression through his humility and professionalism.
Before returning home, Keegan also presented Azlan with a bag filled with his football boots and jerseys, a gesture he has never forgotten.
Azlan tried to get in touch with Keegan several years ago after hearing about his cancer diagnosis but never managed to reconnect before learning of his passing.
“No matter how successful you become, you should never be arrogant. That’s what I learnt from him. Another thing was his professionalism. Whenever he trained, he always gave 100%,” he added.
