Martin Keown
Arsenal legend and England international defender
Martin Raymond Keown (born 24 July 1966) is an English football pundit and former professional footballer. A defender, he played from 1984 to 2005, notably in the Premier League for Arsenal, where he made over 400 appearances for the club and won ten honours. Keown also played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester City and Reading. He made his England debut in 1992 against France and went on to win 43 caps for the national side over the next ten years, gradually forming a respected defensive partnership with Arsenal teammate Tony Adams at both club and international level. Keown represented England at four major international football finals: the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, as well as Euro 1992 and Euro 2000. He is now a part-time scout and coach for Arsenal, as well as a pundit for the BBC and BT Sport. He came out of retirement in 2012 and briefly played for Combined Counties League Premier Division side Wembley in their FA Cup fixtures.
- Role:
- Centre-Back
- Primary Era:
- 1984–2005
- Key Partnership:
- Tony Adams
- Major Honours:
- Premier League (1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04), FA Cup (1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03),
- Club Status:
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Keown signed for Aston Villa after a season in which they had narrowly avoided relegation to the Second Division. Manager Graham Turner was under pressure, and after their dismal form continued into the 1986–87 season he was sacked on 14 September 1986 and succeeded by Billy McNeill. Keown appeared in 36 league games that season, but he was unable to save Villa from finishing bottom of the First Division and being relegated. Graham Taylor then arrived to succeed the sacked McNeill, and Keown was very much part of his rebuilding plans as he missed just two league games and scored three goals as Villa finished second in the Second Division and won promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.
In Their Own Story
The turning point of Keown's second Arsenal spell came during the 1997–98 season. After breaking his shoulder playing for England in the 1997 Tournoi de France, he missed five months but returned as a centre back to help win the club's first Double in over a decade. His versatility was tested again on 21 September 2003 during the 'Battle of Old Trafford' against Manchester United. After Ruud van Nistelrooy hit the bar from a penalty, Keown confronted him and struck him on the back of the head. This led to a post-match melee where Keown was fined £20,000 and suspended for three games. Despite this, he contributed 10 league appearances as Arsenal went on to end the 2003–04 season as unbeaten champions.
Reader's Guide
Keown is a former centre back who played for Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester City, and Reading. He made his professional debut on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion in 1984. His Arsenal debut came on 23 November 1985. He returned to Arsenal in February 1993 for £2 million. He won two Premier League doubles with Arsenal (1997–98 and 2001–02) and the FA Cup in 2002–03. He was released by Arsenal in summer 2004 after 11 years in his second spell. He later played for Leicester City and Reading before retiring in 2005. He came out of retirement in 2012 to play for Wembley in FA Cup fixtures.
Did You Know?
- Keown scored two goals in the last five minutes of a 2000–01 Champions League tie against Shakhtar Donetsk to help Arsenal win 3–2.
- He was fined £20,000 and suspended for three games for his part in the 'Battle of Old Trafford' in September 2003.
- Keown was eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland but chose England, the country of his birth.
- He captained England against Finland under Kevin Keegan.
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