Speaking to newly appointed New Castle manager Kevin Keegan you realise that the man has done A LOT in his life time.
He’s regarded by many as one of, if not, the greatest British football players of all time. He has played, scored and managed at every level and is the only England player, ever, to win the European player of the year twice.
Keegan retired from Football in 2005 after quitting ManchesterCity. However As of September 2006 Keegan has been hosting the Soccer Circus at Xscape. Dubbed the world’s ‘first fully interactive football attraction’ Soccer Circus allows anyone of any skill level to have a go at the beautiful game.
Last year the Liverpool European cup winner told the BBC’s inside sport show that he hasn’t watched a live game of football since his last game for ManCity in March 2005. However that all changed yesterday when he was appointed the manager of Newcastle United for the second time.
Speaking to Keegan back in October last year, he told icScotland about his training initiatives, football in his childhood and also his thoughts on the Scottish national side’s hopes against Italy.
“Life’s changed. When I was a child we went on the street and played games, staying out until 9.30 or 10pm during summer. But parents now are very wary about that today”
He goes on, “We had a lot more facilities when we were younger and a lot of those facilities have either been abandoned because the cost of keeping them has gone up or they’ve been sold for housing as the population grows.
“These initiatives are very, very important because you’ve got to put something in that fills that void and I think that’s what this is all about. The people who put these things together, they care.”
More relaxed now, he speaks about the state of Scottish football and gives us his insight into why it is that now we are on the up after oh-so many woeful years.
“You get gap years in any country’s footballing life. I think Scotland’s had that where a lot of the kids would sooner watch football than play it. You’ve lost almost half a generation there.”
“I think that youngsters are wanting to play again. Seeing Scotland get good results, like beating France twice and on the verge of qualifying for Euro 2008, can only help inspire them.
“Children need something to aspire to and the team’s success helps encourage them.”
“It’s like tennis, when Swedish player Bjorn Borg was at his height it inspired thousands of young Swedish children to pick up tennis rackets.
“Kids need that, they need heroes.”
Speaking before the Scotland vs Italy game last year he said:
“It’s going to be a tough game for Scotland. You’re playing the world champions, but it’s in your own hands.
“I’m an Englishman and our destiny is not quite in our own hands. At least Scotland knows that if they win that they’re there.
“So they are ahead of us in that respect and as an Englishman that’s not easy for me to say, but its fine.”
