It’s not often you get to meet one of your heroes, but a few years back, Jacki and I were lucky enough to meet one of ours, the late great Kevin Keegan.We’d made a bid at a charity auction, which meant we got to spend the evening with Kevin and his wife Jean at an intimate dinner hosted by The Royal Gurkha Rifles in Aldershot.

He was an absolute gent; humble, genuinely interested in everyone and everything, charming, and happy to share any stories asked (mine were all about his time at LFC, Jacki’s more on BBC Superstars that ran in the 70’s and 80’s!).

Not only did the world recently lose a hero and football legend, but we also lost an exceptional leader both as a player and a manager - which we can all learn from:

Using setbacks as fuel:

Early on his career, Keegan was repeatedly told he was too small and rejected by local clubs. But he used these doubts to build an unmatched work ethic.

Maximising your potential:

He proved that this work ethic can turn a modest start into a world-class career. He won the Ballon d’Or twice (one of only four Englishmen to ever do so); once in his debut year in 1978 at Hamburg after moving from Liverpool, where he’d just won the European Cup. He then defended his title, winning it the following year after helping Hamburg win the Bundesliga championship.

Connecting with people:

Keegan was influenced by the managers surrounding him, and he believed players and leaders exist to serve and uplift their fans.His ability to inspire belief and connect with people made him one of football's most recognisable and deeply loved figures.As manager and player for clubs like Liverpool and Newcastle, he treated supporters with a down-to-earth humility that bridged the gap between star athlete and ordinary fan.

Never stop learning (from everyone):

And he was always learning, always evolving, treating every interaction - positive or negative - as a lesson in how to treat people better:"The people I met – Shanks, Tommy Smith, Ian Callaghan, Ron Yeats – all these people you take something from.”

Be fearless with your goals:

As a manager, Keegan always refused to accept mere survival, instead inspiring his players and fans to believe they belonged at the very top. His transformation of Newcastle in the 1990s is one of football’s greatest masterclasses in cultural and organisational renewal, taking over a club on the brink of relegation to the third tier, coming within a whisker of winning the Premier League.

Strategy and Team:

And a big part of this was creating “The Entertainers”, building his team around flair, freedom, and aggressive attacking football, rather than grinding out results. Performance mattered, just as much as winning.

There are so many more examples I could use, but I’m sure you’ll be able to relate to these in your business, and personally as a leader.

As they sang: There’s Only One Kevin Keegan, but his legacy will live on.

BW,

Martin

Martin Norbury

Investor | Business Mentor at Advocate | Author of I don’t work Fridays