'He showed how to lead by example and was a huge influence on me – I took so much from how he went about things': BRYAN ROBSON on KEVIN KEEGAN

I’ll never forget when I first walked into the England dressing room, it was Kevin Keegan who came over, gave me a hug and said ‘enjoy this, son’.

He was the captain, the superstar and reigning European footballer of the year but there were no airs or graces, no front, just this fantastic footballer and man who was genuine in his support.

It was my debut against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley. We won 2-0 and Kevin scored both goals.

How to lead by example. This great No 7. That was Kevin all over. He was a huge influence on me.

He didn’t have to go out of his way to make a fuss of me but he was really welcoming. This big star recognised I just needed a bit of encouragement and him adding normality by saying ‘just enjoy it’. Playing for England.

I took so much from how he went about things. He had loads of energy and worked so hard. That always stood out. You didn’t get to be European footballer of the year twice on talent alone.

He gave everything in training, not just the games.

I maintain to this day that if Kevin had been fit for the 1982 World Cup, we would have had a great chance of winning it. Instead, a back injury meant he could only play a small part as a substitute. But he was that good. He would have made the difference.

He retired at international level after that and I’ve always thought it would have been the most fitting way for him to end his England career to have won that World Cup.

Even when he went into management, his teams had his style. Always attacking, always wanting to entertain, reflecting his great enthusiasm for how to play the game.

As we got older, he moved round the corner from me in Hale and we used to meet up for a coffee. Reminiscing about the old days, mainly those with England, laughing about the characters we knew, the experiences we’d had. I used to see him on the after-dinner circuit and his stories were always so funny, a great raconteur. A genuine star, a terrific player but he could back it up as a terrific man.

To lose him is such a shock. It’s a sad, sad day.

My condolences go to Jean and his daughters.