‘My household have been Arsenal followers, however I supported Liverpool and Kevin Keegan was my hero – I later advised him he was my inspiration and he replied, “I get that loads”‘: Gunners legend and ex-Everton defender reveals childhood fandom

February 8, 2025

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Arsenal legend Martin Keown reveals that, whereas his household all supported the Gunners when he was rising up, he most well-liked watching Liverpool on account of his obsession with Kevin Keegan.

Although born and raised in Oxford, Keown joined Arsenal as a youngster in 1980 on schoolboy kinds earlier than ultimately working his approach into the primary staff. He left for Aston Villa in 1986 earlier than becoming a member of Everton in 1989, the rivals of the membership he supported as a child.

However whereas the defender spent 4 years at Everton, Keown reveals that loyalties to any earlier aspect shortly went out the window as soon as he grew to become knowledgeable footballer.

Arsenal legend and ex-Everton defender Martin Keown supported Liverpool as a child

28 December 1985 - English Football Division One - Arsenal v Queens Park Rangers - Martin Keown of Arsenal. - (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images)

Keown as a teen in Arsenal’s first staff (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)

“You lose all of that when you begin to play,” Keown explains to FourFourTwo. “My household have been Arsenal followers. That they had come over from Eire and the membership had a robust Irish connection.

“I used to be too younger to recall Arsenal’s 1971 Double win, however in 1974 I used to be sat within the household’s grocery store in Oxford when a load of Newcastle followers got here in to purchase Brown Ale – they purchased sufficient to scrub us out.

Wimbledon 1-3 Everton, League match at Selhurst Park, Tuesday 26th January 1993. Official attendance, 3039, the lowest for a premiership match. Neville Southall, Martin Keown. (Photo by Dale Cherry/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

Keown (proper) taking part in for Everton (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)

“I used to be sat there with a ball below my arm, they usually advised me I needed to watch the cup ultimate on the telly that day. I sat there for 5 hours, doing simply that, and that night when my mum was closing up the store, I got here to her, having watched Kevin Keegan and Liverpool dismantle Newcastle, and advised her that sooner or later I’d play in that large recreation. From then on, I used to be a Liverpool fan and Keegan was my hero.”

Keown ultimately had the chance to play for Keegan, when the two-time Ballon d’Or winner grew to become England supervisor. Although in his mid-30s, Keown grew to become an everyday below Keegan and even captained the Three Lions in a single match, and remembers what it was prefer to play for his hero.

“The day Kevin first took the England squad as supervisor, in 1999, we have been within the resort at Burnham Beeches,” Keown says. “Kevin noticed me with snooker balls, requested the place I used to be going and advised me to rack them up as a result of he’d give me a recreation.

“We received chatting and I mentioned, ‘Boss, I solely got here into the sport as a result of I watched you.’ He laughed and mentioned, ‘I get that loads.'”

7 Oct 2000: England manager Kevin Keegan and Martin Keown at the last game at Wembley during the match between England and Germany in the European Group Nine World Cup Qualifier at Wembley Stadium, London. Mandatory Credit: Phil Cole/ALLSPORT

Keown with Keegan in 2000 (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)

When Keegan departed England in 2000, Keown managed to retain his spot within the nationwide staff regardless of him coming in direction of the top of his taking part in profession.

Sven-Goran Eriksson took him to the 2002 World Cup, however Keown didn’t play a minute earlier than he known as time on his worldwide profession.

‘My household have been Arsenal followers, however I supported Liverpool and Kevin Keegan was my hero – I later advised him he was my inspiration and he replied, “I get that loads”‘: Gunners legend and ex-Everton defender reveals childhood fandom

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