Roy Keane has turned 40 today so to celebrate, here are our top 10 facts about the crazy career of the Cork man.
1. Keane is the most successful captain in Manchester United’s history, with nine honours in eight years as skipper of the side.
2. Before agreeing to join Manchester United for £3.6m from Nottingham Forest, Keane turned down an offer to join Blackburn Rovers for the same amount.
3. Keane received his second yellow card that ruled him out of the 1999 Champions League final after tackling Juventus’ Zinedine Zidane.
4. The midfielder began his career as a forward, but at 14 he was judged by Irish coach and scout Ronan Scally to be “too small” to make the grade.
5. Keane’s total haul from his United playing days; seven Premier League titles (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003), four FA Cups (1994, 1996, 1999, 2004), four FA Community Shields, a Champions League trophy (1999) and a World Club Cup (1999). He also won the SPL and Scottish League Cup during his time at Celtic, despite only playing 13 times.
6. Former Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough punched Keane in the face for under-hitting a back pass for the club. “I only ever hit Roy the once,” Clough later admitted.
7. When Keane was made captain of Manchester United in 1997, he was replacing the just-retired Red Devil legend Eric Cantona.
8. Keane’s transfer fee when joining Nottingham Forest from Cobh Ramblers was just £47,000.
9. Keane was awarded Football League Championship Manager of the Season in 2007 after taking Sunderland from the bottom of the league to the Premier League. He resigned a year later after citing difficulties with the club’s shareholder Ellis Short.
10. Keane’s beloved labrador, Triggs, left for the big doghouse in the sky in September 2010. The pet accompanied Keane on reporter question-dodging walks while the player had fallen out with Mick McCarthy during the infamous Saipan incident of 2002.
