Players and coaches of German football club Hamburg observed a minute of silence at their training camp in Langenfeld, Austria, on Tuesday, in mourning for the spirits of the late team stars Kevin Keegan and Uwe Seeler.

Keegan, the former England national team coach and club star, who played for Hamburg between 1977 and 1980, died on Monday at the age of 75, and the day also coincided with the fourth anniversary of Seeler's death.

Eric Hoyer, Hamburg board member, said at the start of training, according to a video released by the club: "Today we remember two great players who not only shaped Hamburg but also football in Germany and the whole world."

He added: "Kevin Keegan left us too early. He is a champion in every sense of the word. May his soul rest in peace. Today is also the fourth anniversary of (Uwe's) passing. No matter what we say, we cannot do him justice. He gave us the moral compass we adhere to."

Keegan had engaged in a heated confrontation with Sir Alex Ferguson, former Manchester United manager, when his team Newcastle was competing for the English Premier League title in 1996.

Newcastle squandered a large points lead in the title race with Manchester United, and Keegan clearly lost his temper in a famous television interview during the final stages of the competition, which Ferguson's men won.

According to the British news agency PA Media, Ferguson told talkSPORT radio: "I had all the respect in the world for him. We had many clashes when he was Newcastle manager, but I have to say the work he did at Newcastle was fantastic."

Ferguson added: "He brought the club back to life, instilling that enthusiasm and fanaticism that the wonderful fans can provide. That's the work he did."

He explained: "Kevin was clearly passionate about the game, no doubt about that, and this passion reflected on both the fans and the players alike."

Ferguson concluded: "That period at Newcastle was full of emotion and excitement. They also brought those great players to the club, added to it, and that gave Newcastle, I believe, the best team in its history."