Roy Keane - The Unquiet Man

UPDATE: On Friday, November 18 Roy Keane has left Manchester United after twelve and a half years service, supposedly by mutual arrangement. However sources suggest Keane had a final heated argument with the manager after being told he wasn't wanted for a reserve game against West Brom last night. Keane was also told he was being stripped of the captaincy. As a former player almost put it, when you leave the team in red - it's like a bolt from the blue.

Manchester United may be big business - We're a Massive Club - but ultimately their financial success depends on how skilled people use their feet. Arguably the most powerful of those feet-users over the last twenty years is one Roy Keane. Not always the prettiest - not a Giggs, Cantona, or Best is he - but usually the most effective. Thing is with Roy though, he tends to not only use his feet. His mouth plays a role in his life. And when your income is as many thousands of pounds a week as his is, well his mouth can cause quite a commotion.

Here then, in seven chapters of headlines - each in reverse order for dramatic effect and anti-climax, is the life of Roy Keane in the last few weeks leading up to this final bust-up:

1. What Happened?
'Roy didn't mention contract'
'Utd squad shown Roy's rant'
'Second Keane tape in hiding'
The Keane Comments Saga – Part Two
first Keane tape in cold storage

Manchester United - Keane talks planned
Keane to create a stir
fans flood switchboard, Keane livid as interview pulled
Keane 'humiliated' by MUTV gagging
Keane gagged after slamming team-mates

Manchester United captain Roy Keane's rant pulled by club's TV
United's frustrated fans won't be censored
Free speech gives way to United propaganda
Keane's candid rant pulled by MUTV
The truth is out there but not on MUTV, fear supporters
Keane's condemnation too vicious for bosses

Sign players in January? We should get rid of some
Keano: Starlets need team ethic
KEANO GOES PARTY STYLE
Keane: United lacking characters
JUST BECAUSE YOU GET £120K A WEEK YOU THINK YOU'RE A SUPERSTAR
Keane's blast for Rio

Keane: Rio thinks he's a superstar
Keane’s talk on the wild side
Keane takes aim at 'superstar' players
Keane turns up pressure
ROY KEANE'S BIG MOUTH
Keane calls for January clear-out

Keane: Changes are needed
Keane slams 'unworthy' five
Keane lets rip at United colleagues
Roy lashes out!


2. But was he justified?
Beckham backs United captain Keane
Ferdinand accepts Keane criticism
Keane spray inspires Smith
Man U Fans Back Roy Keane

Fergie to Spend in January
Ferguson: Stars are no use to us
O’Shea’s sorry evidence justifies old pal’s jibes
O'Shea hoping to make it up to fans
'Well Said Keano'

Does only Keane care?
Former United boss backs Keane
A NEW LOW FOR ROY'S REJECTS
McQueen: Fans may agree with Keane
'I'd love a team of Keanes'

Bennett keen on Roy's spray
Miller loaned to Leeds
Miller out after Keano rant
MILLER THE FIRST ONE DUMPED
KEANO IS SO RIGHTO

Ferdinand shelved as lost leader
FANS GET BEHIND SKIPPER
Keane is of more value than Rooney
KEANE'S RIGHT TO SLAM THE BOYS

Limp United prove Keane right
SO WRONG, FERGIE
Smith defends Keane criticism
SO RIGHT, KEANE


3. OR WAS HE OUT OF ORDER?
Keane may have done lasting damage for a short term fix
Quinn lashes 'self-serving' Roy Keane
Is Roy Keane still worth bothering about?
A new model Keane is high on the list
Roy-al Pain In The Arse

Protest is a basic right of the fans, not the United captain
Keane faces Man Utd sale after naming and shaming teammates
Keano Is The Problem At ManYoo
Not keen on Keane
Smith has no doubts over abilities of Fletcher and Brown

Roy of the ravers
Keane, Throw Yourself Under The Bus
Keane fighting a losing battle
No clarity in Roy’s red mist
A rant too far by Roy of the moaners


4. And how does it affect his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson?
Heading for the exit in harmony
United crash again as Keane and Ferguson prepare for bitter split
Ferguson and Keane set to talk
Keane rift widens as Ferguson hits out
Fergie gives Keane yellow card for speaking out on team-mates

Fergie warns players against going public
NEXT MAN UTD MANAGER BETTING ODDS: ROY KEANE
Fergie still Keane to keep Roy
Ferguson puts in good word for youngsters as Keane fumes
Sir Alex Keane for Roy to stay at United
Fergie lets Keane loose on United flops

Sir Alex acts fast as big mouth strikes again
Ferguson on a major collision course with raging bull Keane
Ferguson silent over Keane reports
Ferguson finds Keane row too hot to handle
Star pupil turns on his master

Tactics changed for Keane
Fergie still hoping to keep Keane
Fergie expects to keep Keane
Fergie: Keane still key

FERGUSON STRESSES KEANE'S VITAL ROLE
Ferguson calm over Keane future
Fergie: No quick deal for Keane
Ferguson hints at no new Man Utd deal for Keane


5. And how does Manchester United fare through it all?
Glazers hand Man Utd boss Ferguson £10M warchest
Thanks Keano!
Win proves United will never die
THANK YOU FERGIE AND MAN U
Thank you Keano — we needed that

Ferguson has hopes of sunshine after wane
Ferguson gives critics a tongue lashing
Fergie: 'Bollocks to you'
Perfect end to a bad week for Fergie
'Fergie got it right'

Ferguson's survival instinct honed after timely chat with McClair
Fired-up Fletcher enjoys keen sense of vindication
Smith admits Keane rap fired up Man Utd
So how was that Keano?
United storm back to form

Man United top Chelsea 1-0 to end Blues’ unbeaten streak
'We beat Chelsea for Fergie'
Why Chelsea will beat Manchester United on Sunday
Only victory will do for Ferguson
Man U don't need motivation to play us, says Chelsea's Mourinho
Manchester United Odds Lengthen to Record for Premiership Match
Manchester United V Chelsea: Just sit back and enjoy the ride

Man Utd.’s Midfield Mess
The Donut Formation at Old Trafford
Ferguson must find right mix in the middle ground
Twilight time for Fergie
Hellish week for tepid Red Devils
"If we beat Chelsea and perform well, I think things will change"

Crumbling of the United kingdom
ManYoo Just Aren't Scary Anymore.
WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME?
Time running out for fergie
Day of reckoning is looming for United
Fans will stay loyal - Ferguson

Where Do United Go From Here?
SIR ALEX: WE'RE ALL WORRIED
NOW THE FANS TURN 'EM OVER
Ferguson to buy to save season
Don't dare feel sorry for yourselves cries Fergie
Manchester United shot down twice in a five-day span

O’Shea tips United backlash
Expect United backlash warns McClaren
Ferguson won't let heads drop
Pallister: United Miss Keane
Fergie: Fans right to be furious

Crowd shouts for Keane as hapless United lose
MUTV keen to show the strain after Lille loss
Man Utd fans call for Keane after Lille shock
English giants run into a Lille trouble
Lille put a new hole in Ferguson's sinking ship
Profit on the cards in Lille

Lille vs Manchester United: Time for United to show their mettle
Ferguson only has thoughts for Lille
Chelsea's top rivals self-destructing
Fergie's men in dis-United mess
Troubles continue to grow for struggling Manchester United
WILKINS KEANE TO SEE A LIFT

MUTV proving an own goal as channel of player discontent
United push panic button after Keane's video nasty
United well aware that the talking has to stop now
THE WEEK FROM HELL? I'VE BEEN THROUGH TOUGHER THAN THIS! SAYS SIR ALEX
United's woeful week

CRISIS? WHAT B******S
Crisis-hit Man U should focus on Carling Cup
UNITED'S PLAYERS IN CRISIS SUMMIT
Ferguson faces greatest crisis
Man United crisis deepens
Manchester United In Crisis
Manchester United faced with a crisis
Are Man Utd In Crisis?

KEANE SNUB ADDS TO UNITED WOES
Ferguson fights dire with ire in United crisis talks
Ferguson: United need substance
Ferguson trusts young United stars
United's last chance - Gray
Under-fire Manchester United
UNITED THEY FALL
We're a massive club
What's going wrong at Man United?


6. But what of the man, Roy Keane himself?
Silvestre: 'Essien is the new Roy Keane'
KEANE SELLS NEW HOUSE
Keane will sign new deal
End of an era approaching for Red legend
Keane set for exit door
Keane's future in Utd's hands
Man Utd skipper Keane wants to sign new deal

The wit and wisdom of Roy Keane
Roy Keane - Not a quiet man
Roy Keane is never lost for words
ROY KEANE: BLASTS FROM THE PAST
Keane: The outbursts

Winning is everything for brutal, honest Keane
Charlton Says Keane Can’t Manage
Kavanah: Lay off Keane
Mixed emotions over Roy departure

Talisman Keane's retirement rounds off a wounding week for Ireland
Keane’s rich legacy in green tainted by Saipan
Farewell, with regrets, for Keane
Roy Keane retires from international football
ROY KEANE - THE HIGHS . . . AND THE LOWS
A career of brilliance and belligerence
Mystery surrounds Keane presence
Kerr would welcome Keane's presence

7. Wouldn't the story have been shorter if we'd just asked Ruud?
Ruud backs Utd to go on run
Ruud: 'We'll build on this'
Ruud: It Starts Here
Ruud: Reds gave their all
Ruud: Let's use criticism to help us
RUUD: SET ME FREE

Things can only get better - Ruud
Ruud: We're determined to bounce back
Ruud wants to lead by example
Ruud: You're spot on Roy
Van Nistelrooy backs angry Keane
Ruud: I won't give up on United

Ruud reveals Boro pain
Van Nistelrooy responds to Keane criticism
Van Nistelrooy desperate to lead United revival
Van Nistelrooy missing those silver service days
Van Nistelrooy to do all he can to stop United's fall
Van Nistelrooy takes the arm-band
Ruud flying high for Reds

Paul Dorrell includes in his list of what inspires him:

Teaching my children to play soccer, or baseball, or simply how to give.