Roy Keane

Roy Maurice Keane (born in Cork, August 10 1971) is an Irish international footballer. He plays club football in England for Manchester United, where he also captains the team since 1997. Roy has been regarded by many pundits as a footballing legend and was the key reason for inspiring his team to such great success, on and off the field he is a quality leader. Roy Keane is not related to fellow Irish footballer Robbie Keane.

Club Career

Roy Keane first played football for local Cork club Rockmount, before signing for the semi-professional Irish club Cobh Ramblers in 1989. Scouts from Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest took note of his talents and promptly signed him for the sum of £47,000. Keane was quick to impress at Nottingham Forest, making his professional league debut against Liverpool.

Related Topics:
Cork - Rockmount - Irish - Cobh Ramblers - 1989 - Brian Clough - Nottingham Forest - Liverpool

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In 1991, Keane was a regular in the side, displacing the English international midfield player Steve Hodge, and scored three goals during a run to that season's FA Cup final, which Forest ultimately lost to Tottenham Hotspur. A year later Keane returned to Wembley with Forest for the League Cup final but again finished on the losing side as Manchester United gained a 1-0 win.

Related Topics:
1991 - English - Steve Hodge - FA Cup - Tottenham Hotspur - League Cup

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In 1993, the final season under Clough, Nottingham Forest were relegated from the Premiership. The race to sign Keane was suddenly on, with Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers vying for his signature. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson won the battle, getting Keane into Old Trafford for a then record £3.75m transfer fee. Keane was an instant success in the Manchester United midfield, taking over the mantle of midfield dynamo from Bryan Robson.

Related Topics:
1993 - Premiership - Blackburn Rovers - Alex Ferguson - Old Trafford - Bryan Robson

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After the retirement of Eric Cantona in 1997, Keane's boundless energy and inspirational leadership made him the perfect candidate to take over as club captain. During the 1997-1998 season Keane missed almost the entire campaign due to a knee injury, and, without his services, Manchester United failed to pick up a single trophy. Keane returned, however, to captain the club to an unprecedented treble in 1999 including the FA Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup. As a recognition for his efforts, Keane was voted PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2000.

Related Topics:
Eric Cantona - 1997 - 1998 - Treble - 1999 - FA Premier League - UEFA Champions League - FA Cup - PFA Players' Player of the Year

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Keane's total trophy haul with Manchester United includes: 7 Premiership titles (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003), 4 FA Cups (1994, 1996, 1999, 2004), a European Cup (1999 - though Keane missed the final through suspension) and an Intercontinental Cup (1999). On February 5, 2005, Keane scored his 50th goal for Manchester United in a league game against Birmingham City. His appearance in the 2005 FA Cup final (which United lost) was his seventh such game, an all-time record. Keane was also picked on the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest living footballers picked by Pelé.

Related Topics:
1994 - 1996 - 2000 - 2001 - 2003 - 2004 - Intercontinental Cup - February 5 - 2005 - Birmingham City - FIFA 100 - Pelé

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Although he maintains a low profile off the pitch, Keane has been involved in several controversial incidents which, while not diminishing his popularity among Manchester United supporters, have attracted a great deal of criticism from many others in the game. In 1995, he was sent off from an FA Cup semi-final for stamping on Gareth Southgate, for which he was banned for three matches and fined £5,000. In August 2002 he was fined two weeks' wages, £150,000, and banned for three matches for elbowing Jason McAteer. This caused much anguish in the English press as Keane booked himself in for a hip operation and missed those three matches anyway.

Related Topics:
FA Cup - Gareth Southgate - Jason McAteer

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In 2001, Keane was heavily criticised for a gruesome tackle on Manchester City player Alf-Inge Haaland. He subsequently admitted in an autobiography that he intended "to hurt" Haaland. Although Haaland retired from football shortly afterwards, he had previously stated on his website that the cause of this was a recurring problem in his leg, rather than Keane's tackle. Keane was banned for five matches and fined £150,000. The two players had a history of trouble, http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/photo_galleries/football/2190003.stm with Keane having tackled Haaland in 1997; the resulting injury caused Keane to miss most of the 1997 season.

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He has announced that he will retire in the summer of 2006, at the end of his current contract with Manchester United. Many people are expecting Keane to become a football manager when he retires. He is already training for his UEFA coaching badges. His current manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that he wants Keane to succeed him as manager when he retires.

Related Topics:
2006 - UEFA - Sir Alex Ferguson

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