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(Joseph) Kevin Keegan, MBE (born 14 February, 1951) is an English football (soccer) coach and former player. He was born in Armthorpe, Yorkshire. A former England international player, he is currently working for FA Premier League football club - Manchester City F.C. as club manager.

Playing career

Keegan was rejected by local club Doncaster Rovers but made the grade further towards the east coast when Scunthorpe United offered him terms. He made 120 appearances for the club before an offer of 35,000 pounds was accepted from Liverpool in the summer of 1971.

In August 1971, Keegan made his Liverpool debut against Nottingham Forest at Anfield and after just 12 minutes he scored, albeit with a completely mishit shot which was all he could muster after he miscontrolled a pass from Peter Thompson. He quickly established himself as a brave, pacey and incisive goalscorer, making his England debut at under-23 level later in 1971 and his full debut against Wales the following year.

In 1973 Keegan won his first domestic honours when he and John Toshack formed the prolific goalscoring partnership which helped Liverpool win their first 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 Monchengladbach 3-2 on aggregate. Late in 1973, Keegan was a substitute as England faced Poland at Wembley, needing to win to secure a place at the 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 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 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, including a stunning lob-volley over the head of England colleague Peter Shilton in the semi-final against Leicester City at Villa Park. In the final, Keegan scored two as Liverpool hammered 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 and Steve Heighway.

Keegan's next visit to Wembley was three months later in the 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 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, ruining the "treble" dream. The vintage Liverpool returned for the European Cup final in Rome against Borussia Monchengladbach three 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 continent and chose to join 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. 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 and everyone knew that he'd 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 (which would have been so much more but for England's total inability to qualify for three major tournaments duirng 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 totally adored by the supporters. He played 78 times, scored 48 goals and helped them to promotion from the 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 8 January 1997.

During Keegan's reign as manager, Newcastle finished runners-up to Manchester United F.C. in the Premier League in 1996. England striker Alan Shearer was transferred from Blackburn Rovers F.C. to Newcastle with a world breaking record of 15 million 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 in their next match an emotional Keegan was interviewed on Sky Sports. Seeming to be on the verge of tears Keegan said:

"I think you have to send a tape of the game to Alex Ferguson - isn't that (the Leeds performance) what he wants? You just don't say that about Leeds".

"I would love it if we could beat them. He's gone down a lot in my estimation. Football in this country is honest. You sometimes wonder about abroad but not in this country."

"I would love it if we beat them. Love it!".

After this game Newcastle managed to throw away what had previously been seen as an unassailible lead in the Premier League. Keegan's bitter rant is remembered by football fans everywhere and is often seen as the turning point in the season of 95-96.

Fulham

On leaving Newcastle, Keegan was appointed as chief operating officer at Second Division club Fulham F.C., with Ray Wilkins as manager. When Wilkins was sacked as manager in 1998, Keegan took over his coaching role.

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 to reignite England's Euro 2000 qualifying campaign.

Keegan resigned as England coach on 7 October 2000 after England were eliminated from Euro 2000 at the group stage and lost to Germany in their first World Cup qualifier in the last game ever to be played at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester City

He was appointed manager of first division Manchester City F.C. on 24 May 2001. They were promoted to the Premier League the following year and remain there to this day.

Miscellaneous

Keegan infamously advertised Brut aftershave alongside boxing legend 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.

Keegan is married to Jean and has two daughters. He was awarded the MBE in 1982. He speaks fluent German and Spanish.

Keegan was famous for having a mullet haircut.

Quotes

"He's using his strength and that is his strength, his strength." (Referring to Emile Heskey) (Source http://www.urban75.org/football/keegan.html)

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• 1951 births
• English football managers
• English footballers