Steve Kean
Encyclopedia
Stephen "Steve" Kean is a Scottish
football manager
and former player. He is the current manager of Blackburn Rovers
in the Premier League.
, a new town on the outskirts of Glasgow
, attending St. Maurice's High School. Upon leaving school, he joined Celtic
as a professional, but was unable to break into a first team then dominated by Celtic legends Tommy Burns, Murdo MacLeod
and Paul McStay
.
He joined Swansea City
on loan in 1987, at the same time as Chris Coleman
. They formed a lasting professional relationship, which carried on after both of their playing days had ended.
Kean then played for Academica Coimbra in Portugal
.
, Fulham
, Real Sociedad
and Coventry City, working as an assistant to Chris Coleman
at Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry.
In June 2008, it was reported that Kean was in talks with Chelsea
to become assistant coach to Luiz Felipe Scolari
. Kean's fluency in Portuguese
from his playing days was believed to be a key reason for Chelsea's interest.
On 4 August 2009 Blackburn Rovers
manager Sam Allardyce
appointed Kean as his new first team coach. Kean replaced Karl Robinson
who returned to Milton Keynes Dons
. Allardyce commented that he had received numerous applications for the first team coaching position and Kean "stood out above the rest through his personality, experience and knowledge of football at the highest level".
After the sacking of Allardyce on 13 December 2010, Kean was installed as caretaker manager
for Blackburn. On 22 December, Kean was appointed manager on a contract until the end of the season to prove his abilities as manager. On 4 January 2011, it was revealed by Blackburn Rovers' owner Anuradha Desai, chairperson of Venkys
, that Kean would be offered a new 2-3 year long-term contract to manage the club. On 20 January, it was confirmed by Blackburn that Kean had signed a contract until June 2013.
Despite Rovers standing at the bottom of the league, it was confirmed by the club that he had improved terms signing a new contract with Rovers. However this new contract was confirmed not to have included an extension to the length of the contract. This came despite Kean's comments less then a week earlier stating: "Yes, there have been discussions about a new contract, but I have told the owners that this is an inappropriate time to conclude any new contract discussions". The new deal came after months of protests at the club in which fans have been campaigning to have Kean removed as Rovers manager.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
and former player. He is the current manager of Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in the Premier League.
Playing career
Kean grew up in CumbernauldCumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
, a new town on the outskirts of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, attending St. Maurice's High School. Upon leaving school, he joined Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
as a professional, but was unable to break into a first team then dominated by Celtic legends Tommy Burns, Murdo MacLeod
Murdo MacLeod
Murdo Davidson MacLeod is a Scottish former professional football player and manager. MacLeod, who played as a midfielder, made 20 appearances for Scotland and played in the 1990 World Cup Finals. He had a successful club career, mainly with Dumbarton, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and Hibernian...
and Paul McStay
Paul McStay
Paul Michael Lyons McStay MBE, nicknamed the Maestro , is a former football player who spent his entire career with Scottish team Celtic F.C., making his debut in 1982 and retiring in 1997. He captained both Scotland and Celtic at all age levels...
.
He joined Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on loan in 1987, at the same time as Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
. They formed a lasting professional relationship, which carried on after both of their playing days had ended.
Kean then played for Academica Coimbra in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Coaching and management career
Since retiring from playing Kean has worked as a coach for ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
and Coventry City, working as an assistant to Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
at Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry.
In June 2008, it was reported that Kean was in talks with Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
to become assistant coach to Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari , ComIH , also known as Felipão in Brazil and Phil Scolari in the United Kingdom, is a World Cup-winning Brazilian football manager. He is currently the manager of Palmeiras. He served as the manager of the Portuguese national team from July 12, 2003 to June 30, 2008...
. Kean's fluency in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
from his playing days was believed to be a key reason for Chelsea's interest.
On 4 August 2009 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
manager Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
appointed Kean as his new first team coach. Kean replaced Karl Robinson
Karl Robinson
Karl Robinson is an English former footballer who is currently manager of Milton Keynes Dons. He joined the Dons on 11 May 2010, aged 29, making him the youngest manager in The Football League.-Playing career:...
who returned to Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
. Allardyce commented that he had received numerous applications for the first team coaching position and Kean "stood out above the rest through his personality, experience and knowledge of football at the highest level".
After the sacking of Allardyce on 13 December 2010, Kean was installed as caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
for Blackburn. On 22 December, Kean was appointed manager on a contract until the end of the season to prove his abilities as manager. On 4 January 2011, it was revealed by Blackburn Rovers' owner Anuradha Desai, chairperson of Venkys
Venky's (India) Limited
Venky's Limited is a subsidiary of V H Group, an Indian company that specialises in chicken meat processing, and pharmaceutical products for both poultry and human usage.-History:...
, that Kean would be offered a new 2-3 year long-term contract to manage the club. On 20 January, it was confirmed by Blackburn that Kean had signed a contract until June 2013.
Despite Rovers standing at the bottom of the league, it was confirmed by the club that he had improved terms signing a new contract with Rovers. However this new contract was confirmed not to have included an extension to the length of the contract. This came despite Kean's comments less then a week earlier stating: "Yes, there have been discussions about a new contract, but I have told the owners that this is an inappropriate time to conclude any new contract discussions". The new deal came after months of protests at the club in which fans have been campaigning to have Kean removed as Rovers manager.
Personal life
On 15 August 2011 Kean was convicted of drink driving at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court. The Court rejected his defence that his drinks had been spiked following a match against Manchester United. He was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1,800.Manager
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
 |
13 December 2010 | Present |
||||||
- Premier League results only.
External links
- Steve Kean, The Celtic Wiki