ITV presenter Declan Donnelly has been left 'absolutely devastated' following the death of his childhood hero Kevin Keegan, paying an emotional tribute to the Newcastle legend

Declan Donnelly was overcome with emotion as he paid tribute to someone who had a huge impact on his life and career.

The TV host was moved to tears as he reminisced about Kevin Keegan. The beloved footballer and manager passed away on 20 July, following a diagnosis of stage four cancer. Speaking about his "childhood hero" on the Hanging Out podcast, which he co-hosts with Ant McPartlin, Dec confessed: "When we got the news through last week, I was absolutely devastated. I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear."

Attributing his own passion for football to Kevin, the I'm a Celebrity star continued: "He was genuinely, genuinely my hero, but he just meant so much beyond football to the whole region [Newcastle]. He was just such a special man, and we were very lucky enough to meet him on a couple of occasions."

Recounting one of his most cherished memories, Dec recalled, "The first one [time we met]: I met him when I was, I think, six or seven.

"I won a competition to play football with Kevin Keegan. My eldest brother took me along to the brewery, I played loads of fun games and all of that, and then Kevin Keegan comes along at the end of it, and you get to kick a ball around with him.

""We all went in for sandwiches and crisps afterward, and then every single one of us had a photograph with Kevin. He sat with each of us and put his arms around us, reports the Express.

As a six year old boy, that was just the best, meeting your hero.

"You know, they say you should never meet your heroes, but he was absolutely the exception.

"So yeah, I shed a tear last week, and I'm shedding another one this morning. RIP Kev, King Kev, Special K. What a guy."

Born in Doncaster in 1951, Kevin began his footballing journey with Scunthorpe United in 1968 before going on to represent Liverpool, Southampton, and Newcastle United.

He secured his first coaching position at Newcastle United in 1992, and subsequently took charge of Fulham, the England national side, and Manchester City.