The curtain comes down again on Keano’s Irish career
The player said that he felt the time had come to concentrate on club football for the remainder of his career.
Yet though the news had been widely anticipated, confirmation that Keane’s Irish career was finally at an end brought an added sense of deep anti-climax to a week already dominated by Ireland’s World Cup elimination and predictions that manager Brian Kerr’s reign is at an end.
One of the potentially great second chapters in Irish sport has ended, not with a bang, but with a brief statement issued to RTÉ.
Said Keane: “Like all football supporters in the country, I am disappointed that the Republic of Ireland failed to qualify for the World Cup finals. Despite the efforts of Brian Kerr, his staff and the squad who made an endeavour to qualify.”
In a supportive reference to the embattled Irish manager, Keane went on: “I believe recent criticism of Brian in the media is unjust and unfair. I would like to thank the players and staff for their efforts.
“Much as I would like to continue playing for my country, I feel the time has come to retire from international football and concentrate on domestic football for whatever is the remainder of my career. I would like to thank everyone for the support they have given me throughout my international career.”
The FAI responded with a statement in which it said that Chief Executive Officer John Delaney had written to both Keane and retiring captain Kenny Cunningham, “thanking them for their outstanding service as Irish captains and paying tribute to their inspirational roles as strong leaders and totally committed captains of their country.”
He also wished them “every success” in their future club careers.
It had been probably the major coup of Brian Kerr’s reign as manager that he was able to entice Roy Keane back into the international fold after the corrosive Saipan row with then manager Mick McCarthy before the 2002 World Cup had appeared to signal the end of the Corkman’s career as an international player.
Once back in the green shirt, Keane did make a meaningful contribution to the 2006 World Cup bid, in particular turning in powerful performances in the home and away games against France. But, unfortunately for both manager and player, the Manchester United man was out with injury for what proved to be the decisive draw with Switzerland at Lansdowne Road last Wednesday.
His comeback, truncated though it has been, has gone a long way to clearing the sour taste that was left in mouths of many after the Saipan incident which virtually divided the nation.
The image of Keane leaving the World Cup on his own will never be far from the thoughts of Irish sports fans, but his reconciliation with the national team means that happier memories - such as his inspired performances throughout that qualifying campaign, and especially in the 2001 victory over Holland at Lansdowne Road - will ensure that he belongs to the ranks of the international immortals for all the right reasons.
Keane, who has been linked with a possible coaching or managerial role with Ireland, said recently that he expects to be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season, but also indicated that he would like to extend his playing career, with many speculating that he could finally hang up his boots at Celtic Park.
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