Keegan quit England job in toilet after leaving Beckham close to tears

05 October 2023 , 17:46

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David Beckham wanted Kevin Keegan to stay (Image: Uwe Kraft/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

Kevin Keegan watched on painfully as his time as England manager went down the pan - before announcing his painful decision to quit in a toilet cubicle at the old Wembley.

Having lost 1-0 to rivals Germany in their final match at their iconic home, Keegan decided to step down from his post after hearing boos from the crowd that were so loud they drowned out the FA's firework show saying 'Goodbye Wembley'. Looking for a private area to collect his thoughts, and with the press gathering in the bowels of the stadium, Keegan and FA chief David Davies found themselves in a toilet cubicle.

Davies tried to talk the Liverpool legend into staying on, despite England recently failing to qualify automatically for the knockout stages of Euro 2000, but his pleas for him to "think about it" fell on deaf ears. "I'm not. I'm going. They don't want me," Keegan is quoted as saying by Davies.

Before executive director Davies attempted to convince Keegan, Arsenal hero Tony Adams and an emotional David Beckham did their level best. Adams was typically firm in his approach, although Beckham was described as being close to tears.

Davies recently recounted that soaking-wet afternoon to the Daily Mail more than two decades later, and explained how he managed to prevent Keegan from walking out and breaking the news of his exit directly to the baying reporters, ensuring that the FA were first to know. After phoning his bosses from a downbeat dressing room, the ex-Newcastle manager went to tell Sky TV of his decision, admitting: "They've given me a fair run. I've nobody to blame but myself. Kevin Keegan has given it his best shot."

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Dietmar Hamann's first-half free-kick was what decided the 2002 World Cup qualifier, but Keegan felt that something else had heavily determined the contest long before. With Steven Gerrard ruled out through injury, the England boss decided to go with Gareth Southgate in midfield, a controversial call which was soon leaked to the media and made itself onto Friday night television.

Kevin Keegan's 18-month spell in charge of England ended with a soaking-wet 1-0 loss to Germany (Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Have your say! Should Kevin Keegan have stayed on as England manager? Join the debate in the comments section.

Keegan was furious amid the swirling debate ahead of Saturday's 3pm kick-off, as the scene was set for his final bow as manager. "The omens were terrible," Davies added, knowing deep down that Keegan's 18-month reign was about to end.

Nathan Ridley