Post by Nelson on Nov 18, 2005 8:08:08 GMT -5
HAHA!
Roy Keane has left Manchester United by mutual consent.
The Old Trafford club confirmed in a statement on Friday that Keane, 34, had left with immediate effect after 12-and-a-half years with United.
Keane gave an interview to MUTV last month, after a 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough which he did not play in, where he was critical of the side.
That interview was never shown and it appears the fall-out has contributed to one of United's most dramatic exits.
United's full statement read: "Manchester United has today reached agreement with Roy Keane for Roy to leave the club with immediate effect.
"The agreement allows Roy to sign a long term deal with another club to enable him to secure his playing career beyond what would have been the end of his contract at United in the summer.
"The club has offered Roy a testimonial in recognition of his 12-and-a-half years at Old Trafford.
"The club thanks Roy for his major contribution to the club during his years of service."
The specific mention in that statement of Keane's availability appears to suggest he will sign for another club, rather than retire.
That could alert Celtic, a club Keane has consistently been linked to but whose manager Gordon Strachan said earlier this season he would not discuss Keane while he was under contract elsewhere.
However, Keane is also thought to be high on the Republic of Ireland's wish-list to fill their vacant manager's role, after they saw the success Mark Hughes had when he cut his coaching teeth with Wales.
Keane won 66 caps for Ireland but retired from playing at international level last month.
Keane's representative Michael Kennedy met United chief executive David Gill at Old Trafford on Friday to thrash out details of Keane's severance, and the stunning news was then announced.
Following the announcement Keane, manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Gill all made statements of their own, with none of them mentioning any behind-the-scenes problems between the player and his club.
Keane said: "It has been a great honour and privilege for me to play for Manchester United for over 12 years.
"During my time at the club I have been fortunate to play alongside some of the best players in the game and in front of the best supporters in the world.
Everyone at Old Trafford wishes him well in the rest of his career and beyond
Sir Alex Ferguson
"At all times I have endeavoured to do my best for the management and the team.
"Whilst it is a sad day for me to leave such a great club and Manager I believe that the time has now come for me to move on. After so many years, I will miss everyone at the club.
"I send my best wishes for the future to the management, players, staff and supporters of the club."
Ferguson said: "Roy Keane has been a fantastic servant for Manchester United.
"The best midfield player in the world of his generation, he is already one of the great figures in our club's illustrious history.
"Roy has been central to the success of the club in the last 12-and-a-half years and everyone at Old Trafford wishes him well in the rest of his career and beyond."
Gill said: "Roy has been a towering figure at the club for over a decade. His dedication, talent and leadership have been qualities that have marked him out as one of the true greats.
"On behalf of everyone at the club, we wish him every success in his future career."
There can be little doubt, however, that Keane's now notorious interview with the club's television station led to issues with Ferguson that neither man was able to resolve.
Keane and his manager were once famously close, with the Irishman seen as his boss' spokesman on the pitch.
But the pair began to drift apart following a row at the club's pre-season training camp in Portugal last July.
That disagreement was believed to be about the quality of the set-up in Portugal and the fact that players' wives were allowed to attend.
It was also not the first time he has fallen out with a manager over a training camp - Keane famously stormed out of the 2002 World Cup because he was angered by then-manager Mick McCarthy's preparations.
He vowed then to never play for his country again while McCarthy was in charge, and duly stayed in the cold until Brian Kerr took the helm for the Republic.
Any lingering bad feeling between the player and Ferguson at Old Trafford after the Portugal row finally exploded when Keane went on MUTV and gave an interview which was ultimately never shown.
It means Keane's last appearance for United was a 0-0 draw against Liverpool on 18 September in which he broke his foot - an injury which is still keeping him on the sidelines.
