Born: Armthorpe, Doncaster, 14 February 1951
Position: Forward
International caps: 63
International goals: 21
MANAGEMENT
Appointed: 7 May 1998
Resigned: 9 May 1999
Games managed: 61
Won: 38 (62.30%)
Drawn: 12
Lost: 11
Fulham honours: Division Two champions (1998/99)
Kevin Keegan, enticed to Fulham to become Mohamed Al-Fayed’s ‘chief operating officer’ in September 1997, had a whirlwind year in charge at Craven Cottage after sacking Ray Wilkins before resigning to become full-time England manager. Keegan dispensed with the services of his friend on the eve of Fulham’s Second Division play-off semi-final against Grimsby Town – which they lost – and took charge himself.
Keegan’s side was built in his image – with the squad supplemented shrewd signings such as Kit Symons Geoff Horsfield, Barry Hayles and Steve Finnan – and was exhilarating to watch. They won the Second Division at a canter and reached the FA Cup fifth round, eventually losing a tight televised tussle with Manchester United after knocking out Keegan’s old club Southampton in a replay and the then Premier League leaders Aston Villa at Villa Park. But just as the Whites were planning for the First Division, Keegan was lured into becoming Glenn Hoddle’s successor – initially on an interim basis before angering the Fulham hierarchy by announcing he would leave Fulham during a television interview.
Keegan’s time in charge of the national side wasn’t a success – he steered England to Euro 2000 via the play-offs were they were knocked out in the group stages – and resigned tearfully following the national side’s last game at Wembley, a 1-0 defeat by Germany, leaving him with the lowest win percentage of any England manager. He went on to manage Manchester City and make a headline-grabbing return to Newcastle, whom he had almost guided to the Premiership title, before falling out with Mike Ashley.
