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Roy Keane

Full Name	Roy Maurice Keane
Position	Central Midfield
Squad Number	16
Date of Birth	10th August 1971
Place of Birth	Cork Rep of Ireland
Height	5' 10''
Weight	12st 1
United Debut	15/8/1993 (A) Norwich
Transfer Fee	£3.75 million
International	52 Caps - 8 goals

Career History
In his youth Roy Keane was originally thought too small in height to become a footballer (a similar thing had happened to that other United midfield great Bryan Robson). Keane took a job lifting beer barrels to build up his strength and practised his skills relentlessly with great determination to become a footballer.

His hard work paid off and after starting his footballing career with Cobh Ramblers, Brian Clough took him to Nottingham Forest as an eighteen year old. Keane made quick progress to the first team. His League debut with Nottingham Forest was away to Liverpool, the then champions in 1990. At the end of his first full season, Keane made an appearance in the 1991 FA Cup Final, getting a runners-up medal. A season later he was again on the losing side at Wembley, with Nottingham Forest losing 1-0 to United in the League Cup Final.

In July 1993 United paid a then, club and English record fee of £3.75 million for Keane. At first he played in a variety of positions such as up front and right wing, before finally settling in central midfield. Roy helped United to win three Premier League Championships, including two Doubles in 1994 and 1996. When Paul Ince departed, Keane made the midfield position his own as the driving force at the heart of United. At the end of the 1996-97 season, when Eric Cantona retired from professional football, Keane took over the role of team captain.

However, less than two months into the new season, Keane was injured with the dreaded cruciate knee injury and spent a frustrating season on the sidelines. Luckily for Manchester United, Keane fought his way back to full fitness to lead the team out for their greatest season yet in 1998-99.

The 1998-99 season was perhaps the best of Keane's career as he was the driving force behind many of the team's best performances. Away to Juventus in the European Cup semi-final he showed true captain's spirit - even when he knew he would miss the final because of a booking for a miss-timed tackle, it didn't stop him playing his heart out.

Keane's ball winning ability, determination, stamina, drive and strength, together with late runs into the box to score vital goals have made him irreplaceable in the midfield. He was unlucky not to be awarded Player of the Year in 1999 and it was a terrible shame that he missed the Champions League final - his absence was obvious against Bayern. When Keane is on the pitch, such is his power and influence you know that it is going to take one hell of a performance by the opposition midfield to beat United.

Recent History
Roy Keane had an excellent season in 1999-2000 winning both the PFA player of the year award and the Football writers Player of the year. His leadership and determination was the driving force behind United's championship win. Half the season was under the shadow of much speculation and distraction over whether he would stay at the club given he could leave at the end of the season for free under the Bosman ruling. After attracting interest from Inter, Lazio and Bayern, Keane turned down their lucrative £100,000 a week deals in favour of United's £52,000 offer ( which still made him Britain's highest paid footballer).

The only real disappointment for Keane that season was the own goal against Real Madrid in the Semi-final and his missed chance that would have made it 1-1 in the same game. He had a high scoring season: scoring a vital late double that sunk Arsenal, long range goals against Valencia, Sturm Graz, Sunderland and Villa, the winning goal in the Intercontinental Cup and an individual effort against Bradford. As always, it was his tackling and will to win that made him so important.

The 2000-2001 season will always be remembered as the season of Roy Keane's controversial outbursts. He famously accused United's corporate fans of being more interested in eating "prawn sandwiches" than watching the team. He attacked the team's performance on numerous occasions and after the Champions League exit to Bayern Munich, Keane said United were "an average side" and criticised his team-mates commitment. There is no doubt that although Keane received a medal in 1999 but didn't play in the the final, he feels he hasn't really won the European Cup. His anger was he felt that team-mates who had played in Barcelona 1999 didn't have the same burning desire as him to repeat the triumph and had therefore let him down.

On the footballing side, Keane was his usual tireless self, everywhere at once and the driving force in midfield. However, he didn't score as many goals as the previous season and his season ended on a low after being sent off at Old Trafford against Manchester City. A vicious tackle on Alf Eng Haaland led to media over-reaction and more controversy. Despite this, Roy Keane remains the heartbeat of Manchester United and his frustrations are the result of an intense desire to be the best. In Sir Alex Ferguson's final season there can be no doubt Keane will be going all-out to lift the European Cup as Captain and right a wrong that has haunted him for 2 years. Who would bet against him?