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Saturday November 19, 2005

Captain Roy Keane leaves Man United

MANCHESTER: Manchester United captain Roy Keane is leaving after more than 12 years at the club, a spokesman said in a shock announcement yesterday.

Midfielder Keane, 34, joined the former champions in 1993 from Nottingham Forest for a then British record fee of £3.75mil (US$6.43mil) and has been the lynchpin of Britain's most famous club for a decade.

Keane, who last played for United on Sept 14 because of injury, recently criticised some of his team mates in a club TV interview, earning a rebuke from United manager Alex Ferguson.

In September, he said he was likely to leave at the end of the season when his contract ran out.

“Manchester United has today reached agreement with Roy Keane for Roy to leave the club with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement yesterday.

“The agreement allows Roy to sign a long-term deal with another club to enable him to secure his playing career beyond what would have been the end of his contract at United in the summer.”

Ireland's Keane bowed out of international football last month, two days after the country's World Cup hopes ended in a match the injured player could only watch.

Manchester United said they had offered Keane, one of the most controversial figures in English football, a testimonial in recognition of his time at Old Trafford.

“The club thanks Roy for his major contribution to the club during his years of service,” they said.

Manager Ferguson said: “Roy Keane has been a fantastic servant for Manchester United.

“The best midfield player in the world of his generation, he is already one of the great figures in our club's illustrious history.

“Roy has been central to the success of the club in the last 12 and a half years and everyone at Old Trafford wishes him well in the rest of his career and beyond.”

Keane said: “It has been a great honour and privilege for me to play for Manchester United for over 12 years.

“During my time at the club I have been fortunate to play alongside some of the best players in the game and in front of the best supporters in the world.

“At all times, I have endeavoured to do my best for the management and the team. While it is a sad day for me to leave such a great club and manager I believe that the time has now come for me to move on.

“After so many years I will miss everyone at the club. I send my best wishes for the future to the management, players, staff and supporters of the club.”

Keane, who retired from international football with 66 caps, helped United win the Premier League seven times as well as the league and FA Cup double in 1994, 1996 and 1999.

United achieved a treble in 1999, including the club's second European Cup, but, having been instrumental in leading them to the Champions League final in Barcelona, Keane missed the dramatic 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich through suspension. – Reuters

Roy Keane Factlife

1971: Born Aug 10 in Cork, Ireland.

1980s: Plays for Cork club Cobh Ramblers.

1990: Signed by Nottingham Forest in England for £10,000.

1991: Wins first of 66 Ireland caps against Chile.

1993: Joins Man United for a then British record transfer fee of £3.75mil.

1994: Wins double of Premier League and FA Cup with United. Plays for Ireland in World Cup Finals in United States.

1996: Wins another league and Cup double.

1997: United retain league title.

1999: Captains United during their treble-winning season of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, although he misses European Cup final against Bayern Munich through suspension.

2000: Leads United to another league title. Voted Player of Year by both fellow professionals and football writers.

2001: Sent off during derby against Man City for bad foul on Norway's Alf Inge Haaland. Captains United to third league title.

2002: Signs new four-year contract with United. The team fail to win a trophy, finishing third in Premier League and losing in the Champions League semi-finals to Bayer Leverkusen.

May - Keane walks out on Ireland’s World Cup squad in S. Korea before tournament starts after row with manager Mick McCarthy.

August - Reveals in autobiography his intent to injure Haaland with “revenge” tackle in previous season and is charged by FA with bringing game into disrepute.

2003: Leads United to their eighth Premier League title.

2004: March - Banned for one match by UEFA for stamping on Porto keeper Vitor Baia during United's 2-1 Champions League defeat in Portugal.

May - Lifts fourth FA Cup title in win over second division Millwall, setting a modern record with his sixth appearance in the final. Ends his international exile by returning for Ireland, under coach Brian Kerr, in a 1-0 friendly win over Romania.

2005: May - United fail to win a trophy, losing in FA Cup final to Arsenal, while Chelsea win Premier League.

Sept 29 - Says he expects to leave United at end of season to continue playing for another club, possibly in another country.

Oct 14 - Announces retirement from international football after Ireland fail to qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals.

November - Keane, then out of action with a broken foot, criticises teammates for United's poor results in a television interview which was pulled at the last minute by manager Alex Ferguson.

Nov 18 - Leaves United by mutual consent.

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