Anthony Quinn’s Keegan: The Man Who Was King is a riotous, sharply observed portrait of Kevin Keegan—a figure who seemed to exist at the intersection of footballing genius, pop culture oddity, and pure 1970s charisma. From his early days of honing his skills at Scunthorpe to his ascent to the glittering heights of Liverpool and Hamburg, Quinn delves into how Keegan's career blurred the boundaries between sporting excellence and celebrity, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his next move. Keegan wasn’t just a footballer; he was a phenomenon, a man whose perms, endorsements, and double Ballon d’Or wins made him both hero and enigma.
Quinn’s writing digs beneath the myth, revealing a competitor who was as vulnerable as he was audacious. Keegan’s story is marked by wild highs—European Cups, league titles, iconic goals—and near-misses that haunt English football lore. Yet, even as a manager, his journey was less about failure and more about the heartbreakingly thin line between greatness and immortality. The book doesn’t flinch from the contradictions: Keegan was adored and doubted, a would-be messiah who could never quite deliver salvation but always left fans dreaming.
In the end, Keegan: The Man Who Was King is as much about us as it is about him. It’s about what we want from our heroes and how we keep searching for something—or someone—to believe in. Quinn captures the weird, wonderful essence of Keegan, offering an affectionate, clear-eyed account of a man who, for a time, reallyi did seem to own the world.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48Publisher: Great Book Selection – Visit Faber & Faber
Published: August 28, 2025Price: £14.99Hardcover: 256 pagesISBN-10: 0571392253ISBN-13: 978-0571392254Dimensions: 216 x 135 (mm)
