'Today I failed. In my heart of hearts, I'm not up to it'
Keegan's leaving speech
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Your support makes all the difference.I told the players first that that's me finished. I just feel that I just fall a little bit short for what is required of this job and the first person I've got to be honest to is myself. I sat out there first half and I could see things weren't right but I couldn't find it in myself to solve the problem.
I told the players first that that's me finished. I just feel that I just fall a little bit short for what is required of this job and the first person I've got to be honest to is myself. I sat out there first half and I could see things weren't right but I couldn't find it in myself to solve the problem.
I've had a fair crack from the FA and the fact they've been so supportive makes it very difficult to leave the job. Nevertheless, because I'm the sort of person who is always honest with myself, despite 10-15 minutes of talking [after the match], I thanked the players for their efforts, because they've been tremendous for me; I thanked them for the performance because, particularly second half, they put on a performance that any coach would be proud of.
As I have said, I just feel I fall short of what is required for this job. It is a massive job - there were parts of it I could do adequately and parts of it I hopefully did very well, but the key part of getting players to win football matches, again today I failed.
Absolutely no one is to blame but myself. I did it to the best of my ability. I am not the man to take it that stage further. I have to be true to myself. After Euro 2000 a lot of managers bit the dust, some of whom had done a lot better than me, and I always felt I had to start this campaign off well. But we haven't done that, so...
There was an effort made to try to dissuade me from going but, although it may not seem so to you, I think that the timing is right. I feel, in my heart of hearts that I'm not up to it. I want to go and spend some time with my family. The fans made me realise that not only did they put me in the job but they told me their feelings after the match. No manager could have had greater support.
Last game at Wembley, and against Germany. For Kevin Keegan, there's nothing more I want to do.
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