The life and crimes of Roy Keane

The life and crimes of Roy Keane

1998: KEANE: I WAS STUPID: After spending almost an entire season on the sidelines through injury, Keane confesses he must change his ways. ''In the past I was naive. I used to go to nightclubs, drink and go to Kentucky Fried Chicken shops,'' said Keane. ''Unfortunately, I did not know people were going to have a go at me. Now I will make sure I know where I am going and who I am going with. ''You live and learn and hopefully, those days are behind me. I'm sure a lot of people the so-called begrudgers were happy to see me injured, and thinking of that has kept me going. For people to say I deserved what happened to me was ridiculous. I nearly lost my career for just trying to trip a fellow up.''

1999: KEANE 'ANNOYED' BY CONTRACT OFFER: Keane admitted his unhappiness with the first new contract offer he received from Manchester United. He said: ''I was a bit annoyed with the first offer put to me. Deep down they must have known it wasn't something I could sign. Our dealings have to be realistic. I am not naive enough to settle for anything less than a reasonable valuation of my worth. I want to stay, but I won't be frightened to look elsewhere if I feel I have to."

2000: KEANE FURIOUS WITH LETTER TO FANS: Keane brands Manchester United's decision to blame his £52,000-a-week wages for the hike in season ticket prices as ''a stupid mistake.'' The club sent a letter to fans claiming that one of the reasons for the ticket increases was Keane's wage rise, which made sure he stayed at Old Trafford and did not leave under the Bosman ruling. ''I'm not one for holding grudges but this was a stupid mistake."

2000: THE PRAWN SANDWICH AFFAIR: Keane hits out at sections of Manchester United's support following what he felt was a poor atmosphere in the club's Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev in November. He said: ''Sometimes you wonder, do they understand the game of football? We're 1-0 up, then there are one or two stray passes and they're getting on players' backs. It's just not on. At the end of the day they need to get behind the team. Away from home our fans are fantastic, I'd call them the hardcore fans. But at home they have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don't realise what's going on out on the pitch.''

2001 SIGNS OF THINGS TO COME: Keane hinted he might quit the international stage if Republic of Ireland officials continue to treat the squad like second-class citizens. Fresh from a brilliant performance in a 4-0 thrashing of Cyprus, Keane blasted the FAI claiming they needed to rethink their priorities. ''Where we trained in Clonshaugh, was abysmal and it has been for as long as I've known it,'' he said. ''I was fairly critical about our seating arrangements on the flight out here, when the officials were sitting in the first-class seats and the players were sitting behind. For me that's simply not right."

WHEN THE 'RED MIST' DESCENDS: Keane admitted there were ''no excuses'' for his continuing lack of self-discipline after being shown a red card for the 10th time in his career. Keane conceded: ''Nobody needs to tell me how foolishly I behaved at Newcastle last weekend. There is no defence. There are no excuses. I try to maintain control, try to stay calm. But the red mist sometimes descends and once that happens 50,000 people would not be able to stop me bursting into a fit of rage.''

2002: PLAYERS LACK DESIRE: Just prior to United's make-or-break Premiership showdown with Arsenal, Keane questioned the desire of some of his team-mates and warned prophetically as it turned out that the Red Devils could end the season without a trophy. Keane said: ''There are a lot of cover-ups sometimes and players need to stand up and be counted.

"We shouldn't have to demand it from the players they should be proud to play and give 100%. We're not asking for miracles. We're asking them to do what they should be doing."

THROWN OUT OF WORLD CUP: An exasperated Keane announces he will quit international football after the World Cup having expressed his total dissatisfaction with the Republic of Ireland's preparations in Saipan. When clear-the-air talks with Mick McCarthy descend into a ''slanging match,'' the Republic boss promptly sends his best player home.