Martin Keown

Martin Keown is a former Premier League defender who played 800 times for club and country in his 20-year career. He is best known for his time at Arsenal where he won 10 trophies, including being a part of ‘The Invincibles’ side that won the 2003-04 Premier League. After retiring Martin has been a pundit for various TV channels and radio stations, as well as acquiring his coaching badges at former side Arsenal and working with Oxford University Blues Football Team. Now also working as a speaker Martin gives a fantastic insight into what it takes to stay at the top of your game for so long as well as talking about his time as a player and his many memorable moments.

Martin’s career began at Arsenal in 1980, making his first-team debut in 1985 after a loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion. He left the club in 1986 and joined Aston Villa where he made over 100 appearances, helping them earn promotion to the First Division. A spell at Everton then followed, while on Merseyside he made his England debut and played all of England’s matches at Euro 1992.

He re-signed for Arsenal in 1993 and played a part in the successful European Cup Winners Cup campaign, despite missing the final due to injury. He helped the club win the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1997-98 before winning back-to-back Community Shields. He won another double with the club two seasons later before adding a third FA Cup and Community Shield to his collection. In his final year at Arsenal, he was a part of the side that has become known as ‘The Invincibles’ as they went the 2003-04 Premier League season unbeaten. He then had spells at Leicester City and Reading in the Championship, ending his professional career in 2005, although he would play for semi-professional side Wembley in the FA Cup in 2012. Since retiring he has worked at Arsenal, completing his coaching badges, and acting as a scout as well as working part-time coaching Oxford University Blues Football Team. He pairs his coaching work with regular media appearances working as a pundit for the BBC on Match of the Day and their Euros and World Cup coverage, BT Sport and TalkSport.

As a speaker, Martin is perfect for a Sports audience with stories to tell from his time working with some of the game’s best managers and players, which are bound to keep the audience engaged all evening. He also knows what it to takes to not only compete at the top level but do so successfully, which make him great for any organisation that wants to know how to reach their goals.