| Name |
Martin Keown |
| Height |
6 ft 1 in |
| Naionality |
English |
| Date of Birth |
24-July-1966 |
| Place of Birth |
Oxford, England |
| Famous for |
Football Player |
Martin Keown is a semi-professional footballer who currently plays for Wembley FC and a former English footballer who played as a defender from 1984 to 2005 notably in the Premier League for Arsenal where he made over 300 appearances for the club and won nine major trophies.
He also played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester City and Reading. Keown made his England debut in 1992 against France and went on to win 43 caps for the national side over the next 10 years, gradually forming a respected defensive partnership with Arsenal team-mate Tony Adams at both club and international level. Keown represented England at four major international football finals including the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. Keown played U16 and U18 for England. When it was learnt that both his parents were Irish, Jack Charlton enquired about his availability to play for the Republic of Ireland but found that he was not eligible due to his underage games. He made his England debut in 1992 against France. With an injury to Mark Wright he was called up into England's squad for Euro '92, and played in all three of England's matches.
In an interview with the Irish Times in 1999 Keown discussed how he had brought up in an a home where Irish music and culture were always present and that he felt uneasy about his playing for England but that the decision was made easier when his father Raymond had told him that to play for England was the correct decision. Keown's early ascension to the England team under Graham Taylor did not continue under Terry Venables, who ignored him completely. Keown earned a recall from Glenn Hoddle in 1997, and went to the 1998 World Cup, but did not play. Keown became a regular under Kevin Keegan (captaining the side against Finland) and played in two of England's Euro 2000 matches. By the time Sven-Goran Eriksson became manager, Keown's age was starting to count against him, though he went to the 2002 World Cup, again as a non-playing squad member. Keown retired from international football the day after England's exit at the hands of Brazil. In all he played 43 times for England, scoring two goals.
