The latest episode of the official West Ham United podcast – Iron Cast – sees former Hammer and current U18s lead coach Kevin Keen on the show.
Keen played for West Ham between 1983-1993 and has worked across the Club as a coach since retiring from playing.
The U18s coach now sits down with co-hosts Chris Scull and James Collins to look back on his time with the Club and also talk about the Academy of Football’s current crop of talent!
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE
An Academy of Football graduate, having joined the Hammers at 16, Keen played 279 times in Claret and Blue before returning to the Club as Under-16s coach in 2002.
The midfielder gives his perspective on being managed by John Lyall and Lou Macari and reflects on one of his favourite seasons in football in West Ham’s memorable 1992/93 promotion to the top flight.
He talks about teammates Steve Potts, Kenny Brown, and Mark Robson, who are all involved at the Club, coaching and working with the next generation of talent in East London.
And at the Academy of Football is where Keen currently finds himself, of course. He has served as U18s coach, reserve coach, first-team coach and, following the departures of Alan Curbishley, Gianfranco Zola and Avram Grant, caretaker manager.
Following coaching roles at Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion, Colchester United, Crystal Palace and Southend United, he is now back at the Club as U18s lead coach.
Last season, Keen oversaw huge success with the U18s, memorably winning an FA Youth Cup and league title last season – a campaign he describes as his ‘favourite in football’!
He talks about the players in that group who achieved the fourth FA Youth Cup in the Club’s history with a huge 5-1 win at Emirates Stadium – and why we should be excited about the future!
