Former England manager Kevin Keegan has admitted he is "not keen" on female pundits working in men's football, during an speaking event in Bristol.
Keegan's football career spans over four decades, scoring 21 goals in 63 appearances for England between 1972 and 1982, and going on to manage the national side between February 1999 to October 2000.
Addressing the crowd of 250 people in Bristol as part of his tour, ‘An Evening With Kevin Keegan OBE’, Keegan made the bold claim.
Keegan said of women pundits: "I’m not as keen, I’ve got to be honest, and it may not be a view shared.
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"I don’t like to listen to ladies talking about the England men’s team at the match, because I don’t think it’s the same experience. I have a problem with that.
"The presenters we have now, some of the girls are so good, they are better than the guys. It’s a great time for the ladies."
Keegan continued: "But if I see an England lady footballer saying about England against Scotland at Wembley and she’s saying, ‘If I would have been in that position I would have done this,’ I don’t think it’s quite the same. I don’t think it crosses over that much."
The former England manager also discussed the success of women's football in recent years, with the Lionesses winning the EURO 2022 championship and almost winning the Women's World Cup in August this year.
Keegan praised the Lionesses, saying: "It is a great time for the ladies’ game. When I was England manager I went to coach the England ladies, and I had this perception of what the quality would be like, and they were so much better than I thought they were going to be.
"I joined in and then I thought, ‘I’m getting out of this.’ I couldn’t get the bloody ball and one of them nutmegged me, that finished me off."
Keegan recalled his own personal experience with punditry and gave an honourable mention to pundit Gabby Logan, following his criticism of female pundits.
He said: "I worked with Brian Moore who was the best. At a World Cup final he would say ‘Kevin, don’t talk too much let the pictures do the talking'."
Former Lioness Jill Scott has become a prolific football pundit since leaving the team
PA
"A lot of the pundits now talk too much. Don’t keep talking, talking, talking. They don’t want people like us any more, our day is gone, it’s time for the next generation.
"There are some very, very good lady presenters and I’m working with one in two days’ time, Terry Yorath’s daughter, Gabby Logan."
Keegan also claimed he is now “very selective” with the football he chooses watches on television.
He said: "I used to watch almost every match but now it’s just if it’s Newcastle or Liverpool, or Southampton to a lesser degree.
"I even find with Man City they are good but they can be quite boring to watch because of the pass, pass. I don’t think there is anything wrong with knocking a ball into the box. It’s not as exciting as it was.”
