A true Legend!
Roy Keane

Roy Maurice Keane (born in Cork, 10 August 1971) is an Irish footballer who currently plays for Celtic. He began his career at Cobh Ramblers, then made his name at Nottingham Forest before moving to Manchester United for a British record transfer fee in 1993.

He was captain of the Republic of Ireland football team for a number of years, representing his country in the 1994 World Cup and playing a major role in their qualification for the 2002 World Cup before he was sent home after an argument with the team's manager, Mick McCarthy(wanker!).

He was also captain for much of his time at Manchester United, winning the FA Premier League seven times and the FA Cup four times, and played a major role in helping the team win the UEFA Champions League in 1999.

During his time at United, Keane was widely regarded as one of the finest midfield players of his generation, known for his inspirational leadership, excellent tackling and distribution abilities. Although Keane attracted praise as a player, he also had temper problems, notably being suspended twice for the same foul on Alf Inge Haaland after admitting that the foul was deliberate in his autobiography.

He is not related to fellow Irish footballer Robbie Keane.


Club Career

Nottingham Forest
Roy Keane first played football for local Cork City 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 £10,000. Keane was quick to impress at Nottingham Forest, making his professional league debut against Liverpool.

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.

Many say if it wasn't for Forest, Roy Keane may have never made it to the big time had Brian Clough not signed him as a pro, as he went from semi-pro to one of the most sucesssful players in English football.

Manchester United

Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers competed to sign Keane after Nottingham Forest's relegation in 1993. Manchester United were successful, signing Keane for a then-record £3.75m transfer fee. Keane immediately went into the first team, playing in centre-midfield alongside Paul Ince.

After the retirement of Eric Cantona in 1997, Keane became team captain, although he missed most of the 1997/1998 season because of a cruciate-ligament injury, caused by an attempt to foul the Leeds United player Alf Inge Haaland.

As Keane lay prone on the ground, Haaland stood over Keane, accusing him of feigning injury. United were top of the league at the time, but their form dropped and they finished the season without a 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.

In 2001, Keane played against Alf-Inge Haaland for the first time since their clash in 1998, and was sent off for a foul which left Haaland with a serious injury. 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.

Although he maintains a low profile off the pitch, Keane was involved in several controversial incidents while at Manchester United. In 1995, he was sent off from an FA Cup semi-final for stamping on Gareth Southgate, for which he was s