Keane softens on Saipan vow

Cork-born Roy Keane had vowed never to play for the Republic again after storming out of Mick McCarthy's training squad in Saipan amid accusations of a lack of professionalism in Ireland's World Cup preparations.

Since then, the 32-year-old has had major hip surgery which threatened his career.

Manchetser United boss Alex Ferguson was so concerned about Keane’s long-term fitness that he has repeatedly refused to let his influential captain play more than one game a week and the player himself has spoken of the benefit international retirement has been to his club career.

However, over the last few weeks there have been increasing signs that Keane was contemplating a return, culminating in his comments about “unfinished business” on a recent trip to Dublin.

Having consulted with the rest of his squad, including skipper Cunningham, Kerr has opted to bring Keane back into the fold and hopes the return of probably the finest player Ireland has ever produced will play a major role in steering his team to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Ireland’s qualification programme begins in September and, aside from 1998 champions France, includes tricky opponents in Switzerland and Cyprus as well as makeweights from the Faroe Islands.

Roy Keane factfile

1971: Born Cork, August 10.

1987: Joins semi-professional League of Ireland club Cobh Ramblers after building reputation with Cork junior club Rockmount.

1990: June 12 – signed by Brian Clough for Nottingham Forest for £10,000. Wins Barclays Young Eagle of the Month award for December.

1991: Makes Republic of Ireland debut in 1-1 draw with Chile in Dublin.

1992: Arrested after rowdy scenes outside a Nottingham nightclub, but released without charge.

1993: January – thrown out of another nightclub after being caught up in a brawl.

July 19 – Joins Manchester United for then British transfer record £3.75m(€5.6m) after 154 matches and 33 goals for Forest.

August 15 – Makes United league debut at Norwich.

1994: Marks first season with Manchester United by helping club complete their first League and FA Cup Double.

Helps the Republic reach the second round of the World Cup in the United States, figuring in all four matches.

1995: Sent off for first time in career for stamping on Crystal Palace’s Gareth Southgate during FA Cup semi-final replay. Hit with disrepute charge by Football Association and later fined £5,000 (€7,500).

Shown red card twice in first three months of 1995-96 campaign, at Blackburn in August and at home to Middlesbrough in October.

1996: March – Sent off on his 30th appearance for the Republic of Ireland against Russia in Mick McCarthy’s first match as manager.

May – Helps United clinch historic second Double with 1-0 FA Cup Final win over Liverpool. Fails to report for McCarthy’s testimonial and Republic training after going on holiday to Italy, is denied Republic captaincy and left out for six matches by the national boss.

1997: April – Misses penalty for Republic against Romania and escapes without punishment after being involved in alleged butting incident.

May – Helps Manchester United to Premiership title.

August – Named United captain following Eric Cantona’s departure.

September – In the early hours of September 25, is caught up in a scuffle at a Stretford hotel following 2-2 draw with Chelsea but witness statements are withdrawn and no action is taken.

Also interviewed by police over claims that he threatened a neighbour during a row over Keane’s straying dogs.

September – Injures his knee trying to foul Leeds’ Alfie Haaland at Elland Road.

October 2 – Manchester United announce he will miss the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.

1998: July – makes his United return in pre-season friendly against Norwegian side Valerenga in Oslo and quickly rediscovers his best form.

1999: January – Claims he will leave United if new contract does not satisfy him.

April – Sent off against Arsenal in FA Cup semi-final replay for two bookable offences. Also booked in Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus ruling him out of final against Bayern Munich.

May 16 – Presented with Premier League trophy after United regain the championship from Arsenal.

May 17 – Arrested after woman alleges he kicked her in a bar – but released without charge.

November – After missing start of Champions League campaign through injury, an uncharacteristic backpass blunder gifts Fiorentina first of their two goals in United’s defeat in Italy.

Scores the goal which earns then a 1-0 Toyota Cup victory over Palmeiras of Brazil. United are the first British club to lift the Inter-Continental Cup.

December – Signs a new four-year deal to stay at Old Trafford.

2000: January – Reveals he would like to finish his career at Celtic.

February – Sent off in 3-0 defeat at Newcastle.

May – Named PFA and Football Writers’ Association player of the year before lifting Premiership title for the sixth time in eight years.

August – Sent off in Charity Shield at Wembley for two bookings, the second for a cynical challenge from behind on Chelsea’s Gustavo Poyet.

November – Criticises lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford accusing corporate spectators of being unable “to spell football never mind understand it” and only being interested in prawn sandwiches.

2001: March – Scores twice in Ireland’s 4-0 win in Cyprus but criticises FAI over the facilities at the team’s training base.

April – Criticises United team-mates suggesting it may be time to break up the squad following their Champions League quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich.

Sent off after again clashing with Haaland in United’s derby encounter with Manchester City.

United retain Premiership title.

September – Sent off for the ninth time in his United career after raising his hands at Newcastle’s Alan Shearer.

October – Insists he is not stalling over the terms of a new United contract.

November – Features in the first leg of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier over Iran but is forced to miss the second leg after aggravating the knee injury which hampered the early part of his season.

2002: March 2 – Agrees new four-year deal to stay at Old Trafford until June 2006.

April 2 – With United leading 2-0 in Champions League quarter-final first leg against Deportivo La Coruna in Spain, suffers a hamstring injury in a 50-50 challenge with midfielder Sergio.

May 23 – Keane is sent home from the World Cup after a row with Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

August – Keane’s autobiography is serialised in The Times and the News of the World in which he reveals details of his red-card tackle on Alf Inge Haaland.

Keane also claims he would have played in the World Cup had manager Mick McCarthy not accused him of feigning injury.

August 16: Manchester City and Haaland announce they will jointly sue Keane over the tackle.

September 1: Keane sent off for elbowing Jason McAteer during Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

September 3: United boss Sir Alex Ferguson announces Keane will be out for three months after undergoing a hip operation.

September 4: Charged by the Football Association with two counts of bringing the game into disrepute – both relating to the Haaland incident. Keane given 14 days to respond.

September 17 – Given 48-hour extension to the deadline to respond to FA charges.

September 20 – Confirms he is to contest both charges.

October 15 – FA committee finds him guilty of both charges. He is banned for five games and fined £150,000 (€226,000) subject to appeal.

November 7 – Confirms he will not appeal against the punishment.

December 22 – Returns to action in United’s 1-0 Premiership defeat at Blackburn.

2003: February 11 – Despite the efforts of new Ireland manager Brian Kerr to tempt him back into the Republic’s set-up, Keane announces his intention to retire from international football.

May 11 – Lifts the Premiership trophy at Goodison Park as United hold off Arsenal for the title.

2004: February 25 – Sent off as United lose in Porto in a Champions League last-16 clash.

April 13 – Announces he will again play for Republic of Ireland.

April 20 – Recalled to Republic squad for friendly against Poland.