Dictionary of Meaning

<<Back
Please select a letter:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0-9

Kevin Keegan

*** Shopping-Tip: Kevin Keegan
Image:kevinkeegan.jpg thumb|Kevin Keegan in his Liverpool days '''Joseph Kevin Keegan''', Order of the British Empire OBE (born February 14, 1951 in Armthorpe, Yorkshire) is a former English people English football (soccer) football coach and player. A former England national football team England international manager and player, he decided to retire after leaving FA Premier League side Manchester City F.C. Manchester City as club manager on March 10 2005.

Playing career
Keegan was rejected by local club Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers but made the grade further towards the east coast when Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United offered him terms. He made 120 appearances for the club before an offer of 35,000 pounds was accepted from Liverpool F.C. Liverpool in the summer of 1971. In August 1971, Keegan made his Liverpool debut against Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest at Anfield and after just 12 minutes he scored, albeit with a completely mis-hit shot which was all he could muster after he miscontrolled a pass from Peter Thompson (footballer) Peter Thompson. He quickly established himself as a brave, pacey and incisive goalscorer, making his England national football team England debut at under-23 level later in 1971 and his full debut against Wales national football team Wales the following year. In 1973 Keegan won his first domestic honours when he and John Toshack formed the prolific goal-scoring partnership which helped Liverpool win their first Football League First Division League championship for seven years and then add the UEFA Cup. Keegan scored twice in the first leg of the final as Liverpool overcame Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 on aggregate. Late in 1973, Keegan was a substitute as England faced Poland national football team Poland at Wembley, needing to win to secure a place at the Football World Cup 1974 World Cup the following summer. With the score at 1-1 and England close to elimination, Keegan started to get changed when he heard manager Alf Ramsey say: ''"Kevin, get ready".'' Sadly for Keegan, Ramsey was speaking to Derby County F.C. Derby County striker Kevin Hector, who was duly introduced as a late substitute. Keegan never got on the pitch, the game ended in a draw and England failed to qualify. The following year Keegan again was a frequent scorer but Liverpool surrendered the League title to a relentless Leeds United F.C. Leeds United team who had gone unbeaten for a record 29 games at the start of the season. However, Liverpool progressed to the FA Cup final. Their campaign in the competition had started with a tie against the club who had spurned Keegan, Doncaster Rovers, and it was their homeboy who scored both goals in a 2-2 draw. Liverpool won the replay. Keegan scored twice more on the way to Wembley Stadium Wembley, including a stunning lob-volley over the head of England colleague Peter Shilton in the semi-final against Leicester City F.C. Leicester City at Villa Park, England Villa Park. In the final, Keegan scored two as Liverpool hammered Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United 3-0 - his first a terrific chest-down and volley from 25 yards after Brian Hall had fooled the Newcastle defence by diving under the ball; his second a far-post stretch and tap-in after great work down the flank between Tommy Smith (Liverpool footballer) Tommy Smith and Steve Heighway. Keegan's next visit to Wembley was three months later in the FA Community Shield Charity Shield game, the traditional curtain-raiser to a new season between the League champions and the FA Cup winners. However, Keegan's contribution proved less than charitable - he was sent off, along with Leeds captain Billy Bremner after a scuffle on the pitch. Both players removed their shirts in protest, with Keegan visibly shaken by the decision. The next year saw Keegan scoring goals and representing his club and country with distinction, but 1975 was a trophyless season for Liverpool and England failed to qualify for the 1976 European Football Championship European Championships. There were honours aplenty for Keegan over the next two years, however, as Liverpool again won the League championship and UEFA Cup. Keegan scored in both legs of the final against FC Bruges, although he had only scored once previously during Liverpool's run in the competition. In 1977, Keegan was instrumental in Liverpool's charge towards an unprecedented "treble" of League championship, FA Cup and European Cup, though he rocked the boat midway through the season when he announced his intention to leave in the summer to try his luck on foreign soil. Nevertheless, Keegan was irrepressible as Liverpool clinched the title and reached the finals of both Cup competitions. Keegan's last appearance in a Liverpool shirt on home soil was a sad one, however, as Liverpool lost the FA Cup final to Manchester United F.C. Manchester United, ruining the "treble" dream. The vintage Liverpool returned for the European Cup final in Rome against Borussia Monchengladbach four days later and Keegan's last ever Liverpool appearance was a glorious one. He didn't score, but Keegan did make the mazy run late on which led to a foul by Berti Vogts and a coolly dispatched penalty from Phil Neal which sealed a 3-1 win. After 323 appearances and exactly 100 goals, Keegan left Liverpool as promised. He had been made many offers from clubs on the Europe continent and chose to join Hamburger SV Hamburg SV in Germany for 500,000 pounds. Liverpool replaced him with Kenny Dalglish. With Hamburg, Keegan became a worldwide superstar and was twice made European Footballer of the Year. He played for them in the 1980 European Cup final, losing to Nottingham Forest, before returning to England to play for Southampton F.C. Southampton. He continued to play for England, captaining them in the 1980 European Championships in Italy and then finally reached a World Cup when England got to the 1982 finals in Spain. Keegan was duly named in the squad for the tournament but was suffering from a chronic back injury and was unfit to play in all of England's group games. In a last, desperate effort to play in a World Cup (he knew that he would not be around for the 1986 competition) he secretly hired a car and drove from Spain to a specialist he knew in Germany for intensive treatment. It worked to the extent that he came on as a substitute for a crucial second round pool game against the host nation which England had to win. Unfortunately, his few minutes of World Cup football will be forever remembered for a point blank header which he directed wide with the goal at his mercy. When Bobby Robson became the new England coach after that World Cup, Keegan was left out of his first squad, a decision he learned of from the media rather than Robson himself. Keegan expressed his public displeasure and never played for his country again. He won a total of 63 caps (and almost certainly would have won considerably more had it not been for England's inability to qualify for three major tournaments during Keegan's international career) and scored 21 goals. He captained his country 31 times. Keegan joined Newcastle United and spent two seasons there, during which time he was adored by the supporters. He played 78 times, scored 48 goals and helped them to promotion from the Football League Second Division Second Division in 1984, within a team which also contained Peter Beardsley, Chris Waddle and Terry McDermott. Keegan announced his retirement prior to the end of the 1984 season and on the last day of the season left Newcastle's ground by helicopter, still in his kit, after an emotional (and goalscoring) farewell. He moved with his family to Spain and lived an exile's life until the call came back from Newcastle and his career as a manager began.

Managerial career

Newcastle
In February 1992, after eight years of retirement and golf in Spain, Keegan returned to the game as manager of Newcastle United. He led Newcastle to promotion to the Premier League as First Division champions in 1993. Although Keegan was appointed Director of Football in 1994 and agreed a new deal that tied him to the club for next 10 years, he resigned as manager of Newcastle on January 8, 1997. During Keegan's reign as manager, Newcastle finished runners-up to Manchester United F.C. Manchester United in the Premier League in 1996. England striker Alan Shearer was transferred from Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle with a world breaking record of 15 million pound sterling pounds ($21.21 million). It was during his time at Newcastle that Keegan had his famous rant on Sky Sports. Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson (famous for playing psychological games with opponents), had suggested that teams tried harder against Man Utd than Newcastle United. After Newcastle's hard fought victory over Leeds United F.C. Leeds United in their next match an emotional Keegan was interviewed on Sky Sports. Seeming to be on the verge of tears Keegan said: :'When you do that with footballers like he said about Leeds... I've kept really quiet, but I'll tell you something, he went down in my estimation when he said that - we have not resorted to that. But I'll tell ya - you can tell him now if you're watching it - we're still fighting for this title, and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get something, and... and I tell you honestly, I'd love it if we beat them, love it!' This rant came as Newcastle's previous 12 point lead at the top of the Premiership had been eroded. By then their destiny was out of their own hands, Manchester United duly collecting the Title once again. The 1995/96 Newcastle team were christened "The Entertainers", and undoubtedly, most people outside Old Trafford wanted them to win.

Fulham
On leaving Newcastle, Keegan was appointed as chief operating officer at Football League Second Division Second Division club Fulham F.C. Fulham, with Ray Wilkins as manager. When Wilkins was sacked as manager in 1998, Keegan took over his coaching role. He won the Second Division in 1999 in a record-breaking season, but left to manage England in an unpopular move amongst Fulham fans. Significantly, he signed Chris Coleman (footballer) Chris Coleman, who went on to be their manager.

English International team
Keegan was named new England coach in February 1999 succeeding Glenn Hoddle. He led the team for a winning start with 3-1 win over Poland national football team Poland to reignite England's Euro 2000 qualifying campaign. After an initial popular period as manager, he began to come under fire for his perceived tactical naivety. This came to a head during the unsuccessful Euro 2000 campaign. Keegan resigned as England coach on October 7, 2000, after England were eliminated from Euro 2000 at the group stage and lost to Germany national football team Germany in their first World Cup qualifier in the last game to be played at Wembley Stadium before its demolition and reconstruction.

Manchester City
He was appointed manager of first division Manchester City F.C. Manchester City on May 24, 2001. He took them back to the Premiership in his first season as Division One champions, and they made an impressive comeback in the 2002-03 Premiership by finishing in ninth place. But in 2003-04, the club's first season at the new City of Manchester Stadium, City struggled and were in danger of relegation until the beginning of May. They finished 16th and Keegan was rumoured to be on the verge of being sacked for most of that frustrating campaign after being criticised for bringing in a clutch of expensive older players that were perceived as being past their prime, including Keegan's personal favourite player, Steve McManaman. When the 2004-05 campaign began, he was many people's number one candidate to be the first managerial casualty of the season. City's Premiership form improved that season, but Keegan quit as manager of 10th March 2005 and decided to retire from football. The club went on to finish eighth under his successor Stuart Pearce.

Honours
Keegan was made an Inaugural Inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 in recognition of his impact on the English game as both a player and manager.

Honours As Player
* 1972/73 '''Football League First Division League Championship''' (Level 1) with Liverpool FC * 1972/73 '''UEFA Cup''' with Liverpool FC * 1973/74 '''FA Cup''' with Liverpool FC * 1974/75 '''Charity Shield''' with Liverpool FC * 1975/76 '''Football League First Division League Championship''' (Level 1) with Liverpool FC * 1975/76 '''UEFA Cup''' with Liverpool FC * 1976/77 '''Charity Shield''' with Liverpool FC * 1976/77 '''Football League First Division League Championship''' (Level 1) with Liverpool FC * 1976/77 '''UEFA Champions League European Cup''' with Liverpool FC * 1978/79 '''Bundesliga (football) German Bundesliga''' with Hamburger SV

Honours As Manager
* 1992/93 '''Football League First Division''' (Level 2) with Newcastle United * 1998/99 '''Football League Second Division''' (Level 3) with Fulham F.C. * 2001/02 '''Football League First Division''' (Level 2) with Manchester City

The future
Despite announcing his retirement from football on quitting Manchester City in 2004-05, the 54-year-old Keegan was linked with the manager of Scottish Premier League leaders Hearts in October 2005 following the sudden resignation of manager George Burley. Keegan's name resurfaced on January 1, 2006, when he was linked with a shock return to management with English Premier League strugglers Sunderland.

Miscellaneous
*Keegan infamously advertised Brut aftershave alongside boxing legend Henry Cooper (boxer) Henry Cooper in the late 1970s. During his career he has also advertised Dentyne chewing gum and Sugar Puffs cereal. *One of the first real celebrities of the game, Keegan has famously never refused an autograph request from a fan (aficionado) fan. *Sang ''Head over heels in love'', a song written by Chris Norman and Pete Spencer released on 9 June 1979. A non-football song, it peaked as high as 31st in the charts. ^{[http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/bob.dunning/headover.htm 1]} *Keegan is married to Jean and has two daughters. *He was awarded the OBE in 1982. *He speaks fluent German language German and Spanish language Spanish. *Keegan was famous for having a mullet (haircut) mullet haircut. *Keegan is remembered for crashing his bicycle in a European Superstars race. Despite scraping himself up badly, he insisted on re-racing and secured second place in the event, before going on to win that edition of the programme.

Quotes
*On his playing days: "The only thing I fear is missing an open goal in front of the Kop. I would die if that were to happen. When they start singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' my eyes start to water. There have been times when I've actually been crying while I've been playing." ([http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/lfc_story/quotes.htm Source]) *Referring to Emile Heskey: "He's using his strength and that is his strength, his strength." ([http://www.urban75.org/football/keegan.html Source]) *"I came to Nantes two years ago and it's much the same today, except that it's completely different." ([http://www.dangerhere.com/issues/issue8-230401/world of keegan.htm Source]) *Referring to Liverpool F.C Liverpool Players: "They compare Steve McManaman to Steve Heighway and he's nothing like him, but I can see why - it's because he's a bit different." ([http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/sport/football/manchestercity/s/150/150921_keegan_classic_quotes.html Source]) **See more at [http://www.dangerhere.com/issues/issue8-230401/world of keegan.htm Keegan's World]. *
- Even more Keegan quotes {{start box}} {{succession box|title=FWA Footballer of the Year Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year|before=Alan Mullery |after=Emlyn Hughes|years=1976}} {{succession box|title=European Footballer of the Year|before=Allan Simonsen |after=retained|years=1978}} {{succession box|title=European Footballer of the Year|before=current holder |after=Karl-Heinz Rummenigge|years=1979}} {{succession box|title=PFA Players' Player of the Year| before=John Wark| after=Kenny Dalglish| years=1982}} {{succession box| before=Ray Wilkins| title=Fulham F.C.#Managers Fulham F.C. Manager| years=1998-1999| after=Paul Bracewell }} {{succession box| before=Osvaldo Ardiles| title=Newcastle_United#Manager_History Newcastle Utd Manager| years=1992-1997| after=Kenny Dalglish }} {{succession box| before=Howard Wilkinson (caretaker manager (football) caretaker)| title=England national football team manager| years=1999–2000| after=Howard Wilkinson (caretaker)| }} {{end box}}

External links

- of Fame/kevinkeegan.htm English Football Hall of Fame Profile Category:1951 births Keegan, Kevin Category:England international footballers Keegan, Kevin Category:England national football team managers Keegan, Kevin Category:English football managers Keegan, Kevin Category:English footballers Keegan, Kevin Category:European Footballers of the Year Keegan, Kevin Category:FIFA 100 Keegan, Kevin Category:Fulham F.C. managers Keegan, Kevin Category:Hamburger SV players Keegan, Kevin Category:Liverpool F.C. players Keegan, Kevin Category:Living people Keegan, Kevin Category:Manchester City F.C. managers Keegan, Kevin Category:Newcastle United F.C. managers Keegan, Kevin Category:Newcastle United F.C. players Keegan, Kevin Category:Officers of the British Empire Keegan, Kevin Category:People of Irish descent in Great Britain Keegan, Kevin Category:Roman Catholics Keegan, Kevin Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players Keegan, Kevin Category:Southampton F.C. players Keegan, Kevin Category:Superstars competitors Keegan, Kevin Category:Two-time European Footballers of the Year Keegan, Kevin bg:Кевин Кийгън de:Kevin Keegan fr:Kevin Keegan it:Kevin Keegan he:קווין קיגן ja:ケビン・キーガン no:Kevin Keegan pt:Kevin Keegan fi:Kevin Keegan sv:Kevin Keegan

*** Shopping-Tip: Kevin Keegan