Kevin Keegan (pictured) has been an England centre forward, captain and manager. The famous Three Lions means everything to him. The 64-year-old former European Cup winner and Liverpool legend, who managed England at Euro 2000, also has a clear passion for talking about football. After watching five key moments of his brilliant career in video, Keegan refuses to leave.
Instead, with trademark humour, Keegan asks: “Can I show you the greatest goal I never scored?” He then proceeds to explain exactly why the ‘goal’ for Southampton against Manchester United in 1981 was not given.
In a wide-ranging interview with www.sc.qa, the 1979 Ballon D’Or winner spoke about why football is a universal right, Liverpool’s resurgence under new manager Jurgen Klopp, Steven Gerrard, England’s chances of winning Qatar 2022, and his first memories of watching the World Cup as a kid.
Kevin, after visiting the offices of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and seeing the plans first hand in Doha, what are your impressions about the preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar?
Quite a few things have impressed me in Qatar. The progress in the stadium construction is one of them. The stadiums looked fantastic and the designs are unique to the culture of the region and have never been seen in previous World Cups. Also the modular concept of the stands. The fact that they are planning to reduce the seating of a 40,000 stadium to half its capacity in the legacy stage and donating the seats to the developing world is a great concept. Obviously Qatar wouldn’t need stadiums of that proportion once the World Cup is over and the concept has been well thought out. The World Cup is still seven years away but there is enormous enthusiasm already, which is very encouraging.
Despite winning so many club honours, you had to go to great lengths to come back from injury and play only 24 minutes against hosts Spain in Madrid in 1982. How important is it for a player to appear in a World Cup?
The World Cup is the biggest stage of them all. Playing for your country in the tournament is the absolute pinnacle. It does not get any bigger than this. And I am a person who has played in Cup finals in England and European Cup finals in places like Rome and Madrid. Unfortunately, just before the 1982 finals, I developed a back problem. I had to go back to Germany, missed the first three games, did not start the next game and then was brought on with 24 minutes to go against Spain in the last game of the second group stage. For all my international career – I played 60-odd times for the country and captained 30-odd times – I only played 24 minutes in a World Cup. That was disappointing but I would say it was 24 minutes more than what any player might expect, so I must be thankful for that.
What was the highlight of your playing career?
The first highlight of my career was going to Liverpool as a youngster from a small club and meeting a great manager called Bill Shankly. He was the biggest influence in my life and changed my life. Captaining England was another. Looking down at the Three Lions and thinking I am captaining the side is a great experience. Then, of course, the 1977 European Cup final in Rome. I was playing my last game for Liverpool against a German team [Borussia Monchengladbach] and I was going to play in Germany next season and we won. That win culminated my six wonderful years for Liverpool. But playing for England is the biggest thing that has happened to me.
You were called one of the earliest media superstars of English football. Who do you think is likely to be the next one?
The only way to be a superstar is to play really well every week and be successful. The first superstar in England was George Best, who was an absolute genius. I followed and by the time David Beckham came along there was a different procedure. The media was much stronger and everything was much more magnified. The next English superstar could be young Jack Grealish of Aston Villa if he keeps his head right. He has the natural ability which I first saw in a young Paul Gascoigne in Newcastle. Ross Barkley is another candidate.
There were some reports linking former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to a move to the Qatar Stars League. Do you think he could be successful here?
Football in Qatar is going to grow with the World Cup coming around. With regards to Brendan, he could be successful with the right club. He is very methodical and professional. Whoever appoints him will get 100 per cent professionalism. True, it did not go too well in Liverpool towards the end of his stint but that is not entirely Brendan’s fault. Liverpool were trying to catch up to where they were 25 years ago when they were one of the best sides in the world. They are a long way off that currently and that is not entirely Brendan’s fault.
England has set a goal to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Do you think the current crop of youngsters such as Kane, Barkley, Sturridge, Sterling and Stones have it in them to turn this dream into reality in Qatar?
For the first time in a long time England have a good crop of youngsters coming through. At the moment it is only promise but it could be fulfilled in the years to come. Qatar 2022 is still seven years away and that is a long time. Perhaps in England there are 12-year-old boys in junior teams of clubs now who will do well in Qatar 2022. Also, players like Grealish and Barkley will be in their late twenties in 2022. So it is not entirely who we have now who will determine if England will win in Qatar. The quality of youngsters coming through the system will decide it. You need six or seven very good players to make a World Cup winning team. England have never had that depth of talent. We now know the World Cup is going to be played in November and December. Having travelled here during that period for the last three or four years, I know that the climate in Qatar during the World Cup will not be an excuse for England to do badly. It could well be an advantage for England to play in mid-season. For once, because of the timing of the tournament, England and a couple of other European sides will have an advantage over the South Americans which we never had previously.
2022 would only be the second time the World Cup has come to Asia. With the Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande having won their second AFC Champions League title in three years and with the popularity of the Indian Super League will football come of age in Asia before 2022?
Asian football is catching up. It is true that European leagues are the best in the world. But Asian clubs are now recruiting the best players and are more professional and streetwise. I don’t think you should underestimate the Chinese or the Korean sides. Or even the Saudi Arabian or the Qatari ones. The standards are catching up quickly and if some youngsters at Aspire come through the quality will only further enhance. The desire and hunger is stronger in this part of the world. Kids want to reach hitherto unchartered territory by playing football. There is a chance that in the next 20 years you’ll see a World Cup winner from Asia. The youngsters out here need role models who will inspire and that is what the World Cup in 2002 will give a seven-year-old Qatari kid who watches the tournament. What will happen in the World Cup in 2022 is not as important as the legacy that it will leave behind.
You have been part of and have witnessed great Liverpool sides. Do you think there is anybody in Klopp’s side who could potentially challenge for spots in the 1981 and 1984 sides given a couple of years to develop?
Philippe Coutinho can get a spot in the great Liverpool sides of the 1970s and 80s. Gerrard would have got in but he is gone now. There are not very many in this side who would have got into the great sides. Maybe Sturridge could if he keeps himself fit. I will be interested to see what Klopp does in the transfer windows in January and June. He is likely to look to Germany, where he has achieved so much with Borussia Dortmund, to recruit two or three players who can hit the ground running in the Premier League from his old club.
How have you seen Klopp’s impact at the club so far? Having played in Germany yourself, do you think Klopp is the perfect man to lead Liverpool right now?
I see Klopp fitting at Liverpool like a hand in a glove. Not just about his personality, which has contributed to Liverpool looking more energetic now. Also the training. When I played in Germany I learnt from the training. You need to be fit, strong, work hard and disciplined. That is the German way and Klopp will bring this to Liverpool. Liverpool needed to be a bit more energetic, strong and certainly more disciplined. You can’t just go out to play not knowing clearly what your role is going to be in the team. Klopp has installed these qualities very quickly and we saw the benefits against Chelsea and Man City. It is onwards and upwards now.
What is your first memory of watching the World Cup on TV and in the stadium?
It was England winning in 1966. I wanted to be a goalkeeper then, even though I am small. I saw Alan Ball at 19 picking up the World Cup winners’ medal, which inspired me.
Do you think the World Cup should go to different regions of the world?
Definitely yes. The 1994 World Cup in USA, I thought, would not be a good one as Americans at that time were not too much into football. But I was proven wrong – it was a well-attended tournament. I went to Mexico in 1986, which had its own style with its passionate locals. In Qatar it will be different to what we have ever seen. That is how it should be. It should go around the world. Football is not the possession of any one country or region. It is universal, the biggest sport in the world, and the World Cup is the sport’s showpiece event. I went to South Africa and Mandela was alive then, which was a great memory. Every World Cup gives its own share of memories and Qatar will have its own. It may be the fantastic stadiums, the atmosphere, and how far the Qatari people went to embrace the tournament. I am looking forward to Qatar 2022. Of course, we have Russia before that. I will go to Russia and, hopefully God willing, I will be in Qatar in 2022. The passion is definitely evident. Qatar has got the infrastructure as well. The country has grown very quickly. The hotels, the food, the people, the airport, the roads and transport, everything is changing very quickly. (SC.qa)
