Welcome Back Roy

On Friday, August 10, 2007, Roy Keane celebrated his 36 birthday. Of course celebrated here is a relative word, because Keane doesn't spent the day 'celebrating'. Instead, he focused himself on how to win against Tottenham Hotspurs at Stadium of Light the next day. Typically, his boys didn't disappoint him. With a last minute goal from Michael Chopra, Sunderland beat Spurs 1-0 on Saturday. They're typical Keane side, dogged, determined, and never give up until the final whistle is blown. Such was his mark on the game, whether as a player, or as a manager. As a tribute to Keane, I've written the following profile. It was written for the profile section at redcafe, and I'd thought of posting it here as a late birthday tribute.

United former captain was a controversial figure, but he was also considered as one of the greatest player to ever wear the red shirt. In his prime, the Irishman was just simply unplayable. Playing in central midfield, he had that ability to break the opponents attack on his own box and appear moments later to score a goal on the other end. An accomplished passer of the ball and a great reader of the game, he could dictate the pace of the game as well as anyone.

Born in the suburb of Cork, Ireland, 8 year old Keane started his career at local club Rockmount AFC. Although showing great promise, at one stage he was deemed too small to make it as a professional footballer. But after his request for trial was rejected by every English club he tried, he finally signed his first professional contract for Cobh Rambler at the age of 18. His performance at Rambler attracted the attention of Brian Clough, then manager of Nottingham Forest, who brought him to Forest for 47.000 pounds.

There, under Clough guidance, Keane was beginning to fulfil his potential. He helped Forest to two consecutive Cup finals, the 1991 FA Cup final lost against Tottenham Hotspurs and the 1992 League Cup final which they also lost to Manchester United. However, despite the excellent Cup runs, Forest league performance wasn't very good. When the bad run in the League reached its peak and saw Forest relegated, it was time for Keane to move on. Several Premiership clubs show interest, and it looked like Blackburn will get Keane service after reaching a verbal agreement with him. But when Alex Ferguson and Manchester United stepped in, there was only one way Keane will go.

He was a crowd favorite at Forest, but it was clear that Manchester United was the perfect stage from him. He helped United won their first double in his first season and forging a formidable partnership with Paul Ince at the centre of the park. And when United sold Ince, Kanchelskis and Hughes to give room for players from the youth academy, Keane became one of the senior midfielder at the club, a role which he relished. Keane and Cantona led the young team to another double, and when Cantona called it a day at the end of the next season, Keane was handed the captaincy.

His time as a captain is what locked him into the United legends pantheon. After missing most of the 1997-1998 season due to a knee cruciate injury, Keane led United to their best season to date, winning the Premiership, the FA Cup, and the Champions League all in one season. His performance in the Champions League Semi Final against Juventus in Turin, where he
dragged United from 2-0 down to win 2-3 was hailed as one of the best performance by a single individual player in United history. Ferguson highlighted the selflessness of his performance, citing the fact that even though the booking he got early in the game would ruled him out from the final, he still performed to ensure his teammates get there. Keane led United to another 3 titles (two consecutively after the treble, making United the only team in history to won the Premiership three times in a row), and 1 FA Cup before his controversial exit on 18 November 2005.

Keane, always one who speak his mind, was highly critical to some of the United younger players in their 4-1 defeat at Boro. A game which Keane missed due to injury. The criticism, which was recorded at MUTV, seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for his time at United. Although Ferguson and Keane still mantain a very good relationship afterwards, Keane presence at the club was deemed detrimental to the young players, which forced Ferguson to let him go.

Similar attitude was also the source of controversy, when he protested the Ireland less than professional set-up during the 2002 World Cup. Mick McCarthy, then Ireland manager, was less than happy and allegedly retort by accusing Keane of feigning injury to escape international duty at the qualifier. Keane went home and was he divided the country's opinion, some defended him claiming Keane's right about the Ireland set-up, while the other half claimed that Keane shouldn't desert his country when they needed him most.

Keane went to Celtic in January 2006, and he went on won another double for the Scottish club, winning a MOM performance against rivals Glasgow Rangers along the way. However after the season ended, Keane finally announced his retirement from football. Long time hip injury had finally taken its toll, and under medical advices, Keane was forced to hang his boots at the age of 35.

Even though Keane once stated that he didn't want to go into management after he see first hand the amount of pressure Clough and Ferguson had to endure, he finally cave in and was announced as manager of Sunderland Football Club at 28 August 2006, signing a three year deal. Keane showed his managerial talent at the North East club in typical Keane style, dragging Sunderland from second to bottom in the Championship division to won the league by the end of the season. People who judged his managerial career
would be a short one was surprised to see a much calmer Keane, although he maintains that competitive streak that has serve him so well in his playing and apparently in his managerial career too.

It remains to see whether Keane would finally come and replace Ferguson as United manager, but even if he's not, a warm reception when he'll back at Old Trafford as oppossing manager can be guaranteed.