Keane, Roy

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Personal

Fullname Roy Maurice Keane
aka: Roy Keane, Keano
Height 5.11
Weight 12.00
Born: 10 August 1971
Birthplace: Cork, Ireland
Signed: 15 December 2005 (from Man Utd)
Left: 12 December 2006 (retired as player)
Position: Central Midfielder
Debut: Clyde 2-1 Celtic, Scottish Cup, 8 Jan 2006
Internationals: Ireland
International Caps 65
International Goals 9

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Biog

“Gordon Strachan told me: ‘I’m not really too worried if you sign for us or not. We’re okay without you.’ So I said to myself: ‘**** him, I’m signing’.”
Roy Keane

Roy Keane left his old club Manchester United (where he is rated as a footballing legend) but on ambivalent terms. He was dedicated to that club and their fans loved him even more for his uncompromising and martyr-like devotion to winning. However, slagging your team mates off publicly in no uncertain terms is not going to win you popularity contests amongst your colleagues, so he left/got pushed/chucked out/walked out (delete as you think appropriate). His manager Alex Ferguson rated him as irreplaceable, but now had to do without him.

With various clubs after him, few would have begrudged him moving to Real Madrid for a big fat retirement cheque, but he didn’t go there, he came to Celtic. Counter to popular belief, there is little evidence that he was some died-in-the-wool Celtic fan as a boy, but reports said he was a big Spurs fan. In 2024, Roy Keane revealed he actually did end up declining a move to Real Madrid and instead opted to join Celtic.

Nevertheless, during his time at Manchester Utd, he visited Celtic Park to watch Celtic a number of times and fell in love with the club, and noted in his biography that he wished to play for Celtic before the end of his career.

“I wouldn’t have called it a dream but I’d always liked Celtic. And the Irish connection would have been on the back of my mind. I felt a bit of loyalty to them. This decision was a purely selfish one. I just wanted to play for Glasgow Celtic. Celtic is a special club.”
(Roy Keane autobiography 2014)

Arguments on the Celtic online forums raged over whether Celtic should take him or not, some arguing he was too old or that he was tainted due to his vicious tackle on another player in a match which broke that man’s leg. Others said he was a great player and would pass on great coaching to our youngsters and so on.The last word was always going to be Gordon Strachan’s and he brought Roy Keane to Paradise, although it doesn’t appear that Strachan was really going for him.

His Celtic career started surprisingly in the more spartan surroundings of playing Clyde at Broadwood in the Scottish Cup, where we duly lost 2-1 to the lower tier side. Embarrassing start but he was hardly at fault in any way. The team performed shockingly poorly on the day and got what they deserved.

In a later released autobiography (2014) he stated on that first game (albeit written by a ghost author taking liberties):

“My first game [for Celtic] was Clyde, away, in the third round of the Scottish Cup. We were beaten 2-1. It was a nightmare. I wasn’t happy with my own game. I did OK, but OK wasn’t good enough. After the game – the disappointment. As I was taking my jersey off, I noticed the Nike tag was still on it. When I got on the bus John Hartson, a really good guy, was already sitting there and he was eating a packet of crisps – with a fizzy drink. I said to myself: ‘Welcome to Hell.’”

Anyhow, the rest of his short career at Celtic was a vast improvement, with no repeats of that sorry debacle and he enjoyed the experience. Sadly his time was punctured by injuries although he still gathered enough appearances to win a League title medal. He played a role in the League Cup win v Dunfermline but had to come off injured which was his last appearance for the club.

To his critics’ dismay, he handled his single Celtic v Rangers game very well (remaining unbeaten) playing in the 1-0 win at Ibrox and got involved in his normal physical manner, getting a yellow card for his troubles (which I’m sure he will treasure for the rest of his life). It was the sort of game Keane would have wanted to play in and he played well for Celtic in his part in this game. Roy Keane put in the sort of performance he was renowned for at his peak never giving Barry Ferguson or the Rangers midfield a look in – a tremendous display without any shadow of a doubt

After much consideration, he admitted that he couldn’t carry on his career. Injuries were too much for his overworked body to be able to handle any more, and he announced time up on his career having won over every Celtic fan for his dedication through his short time (except Billy McNeil for some reason). He admitted to generally keeping to himself whilst at Celtic, preferring not to get close to the others but did admit he liked that there were no egos amongst his team-mates as like at Manchester Utd.

Overall, he gave as good as he could in his limited time at the club. His old manager at Manchester Utd, Alex Ferguson, later reflected that Roy Keane loved it at Celtic and respected his time at the club. Problem is that he was at the twilight of his career and the fire on-field wasn’t there as it once was.

His final game was his testimonial at Old Trafford, which was an emotional occasion for him, even breaking a rare smile on the pitch. He played the first 45mins with Celtic and the second 45 with Manchester Utd in the 2-0 victory for the home side bringing down the curtain on a glorious and controversial career.

He admitted to some disappointment in his form at Celtic due to his injuries:

“I was 34 when I finished. But I should have retired when I left United. I even lost a bit of the love for the game after that. I went up to Celtic but my hip was really at me, painkillers for training. I tore my hamstring two or three times up at Celtic. I was commuting. I still had a year left on my contract and I rang Gordon. I rang Gordon Strachan about what do I do. I had gone up there and kind of embarrassed myself, I wasn’t really doing the business.”

As a slight aside, it was astonishing (okay it wasn’t really) that a few weeks prior to Roy Keane’s Testimonial, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester had point blank refused permission to allow Bolton to play a friendly against Rangers due to the Rangers’ fans’ reputation. Yet, 35,000 Celtic Supporters were allowed to travel to Old Trafford for Keane’s game, and were subsequently praised by the very same Chief Constable for their excellent and exemplary behaviour

There was a lot of pride in seeing Roy Keane play for Celtic, and there were displays made specially for him (e.g. Irish Tricolour card displays and the like).

Football will unlikely see many more gladiatorial figures than him in its history, and Celtic can be thankful to be able to count him as one of its sons.

Post-Celtic
He’d had a poor run in managing sides after hanging up his boots, with failed tenures at Sunderland and Ipswich. After castigating fellow players for turning to match commentary & analysis, ironically he gave it all a go with some straight-forward talk, some of his appearances becoming classic clips for his pithy & caustic views on just about anything.

However, being on the front football was where he heart lay, but he needed the right offer. He was supposedly offered the Celtic manager’s role in 2014 but he turned it down saying Celtic weren’t trying hard enough and so he opted to remain in his co-manager role with the Rep of Ireland. Likely he was only shown the role with enquiries to his interest, but many commentators believed Celtic dodged a bullet on this one preferring Ronny Deila instead but Ronny Deila himself turned out to be another failed move.

His management & assistant roles all ultimately failed, including working beside ex-Celtic manager Martin O’Neill at Nottingham Forrest having previously done a similar role for Rep of Ireland also with Martin O’Neill.

He ended up mostly as a football analyst, with a very caustic and blunt view on players and the approach needed to succeed in the game. The highlights instantly went viral across social media, and often made him a figure for mockery or pride depending on your viewpoint.

[….]

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Quotes

Keane’s departure [from Man U] was inevitable and he signed for boyhood favourites Celtic but Ferguson soon knew his career was on the wane.
He said: “The dressing room relaxed when Roy left. Relief swept the room. They no longer had to listen to the barrage that some of them had grown to expect. Because he’d been a declining force, the gap he left was not as big as it would have been three years previously.
“I watched him in a Celtic-Rangers game and said to Carlos Queiroz beforehand, ‘He’ll be the star man today’.
“Roy was never in the game. He played a passive role. The dynamic, fist-clenching, demanding Roy Keane wasn’t there.
“He loved it at Celtic Park. I spoke to him about it and he praised the training, the facilities, the Prozone. Things did settle down between us.
“About two months later I was sitting in my office discussing team business with Carlos when a member of staff called to say Roy was here to see me. I was startled.
“He said, ‘I want to apologise to you for my behaviour’. That’s when he began describing the scene at Celtic and telling me how well his work was going. But when I saw him in that Rangers-Celtic game I knew he wouldn’t carry on with it.”
Alex Ferguson (Man U manager) on his former player Roy Keane (from his biography 2013)

“You obviously don’t know Martin [O’Neil] as well as you think you do. He makes me look like Mother Theresa.”
Ex-Celtic player Roy Keane on ex-Celtic manager Martin O’Neil (Roy Keane is assistant to MoN who is the manager of Rep of Ireland, but Keane never played under MoN at Celtic) (2013)

“I wouldn’t have called it a dream but I’d always liked Celtic. And the Irish connection would have been on the back of my mind. I felt a bit of loyalty to them. This decision was a purely selfish one. I just wanted to play for Glasgow Celtic. Celtic is a special club.”
Roy Keane in his autobiography (2014)

“I met Gordon Strachan in London at Dermot Desmond’s house. Gordon told me ‘I’m not really worried if you sign for us or not. We’re okay without you’.
“So I said to myself ‘F*** him, I’m signing’.
“I think it was one of the reasons I signed for Celtic – to prove Gordon wrong.”
Roy Keane in his autobiography, but story appears to have been embellished by the ghost writer as per Strachan’s replies to it in an interview in 2018

“Perception. People think I’m probably not up to it [on becoming a successful manager]. They see me on the television and think ‘he’s a bit of a head case’. I fell out with [Mick] McCarthy and [Alex] Ferguson. They think ‘he’s trouble’. I don’t think I am.”
Roy Keane (2022)

“So, you signed a Cork Bhoy today then?”
About an hour into the set at gig at the O2 Academy, Pogues legendary frontman Shane MacGowan grabs the microphone and addresses the audience

“When I moved to Sunderland I’d see some people getting the wrath of Keano, but at Celtic I think he was quite subdued and laid back. He ended up picking up a hamstring injury and I don’t think he and Gordon saw eye-to-eye. I think he wanted to fulfill playing for Celtic as he was a Celtic man. He wanted that experience of playing for the club. But in terms of the younger lads, he was brilliant with us and attached himself to us which was strange! You’ve got this thing with Roy where he’s always quite stern and straight-faced but he loved a laugh and a joke as well.”
Ex-Celt Ross Wallace

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Playing Career

Club	From	To	Fee	League		Scottish/FA Cup		League cup		Other
Celtic	15/12/2005	12/06/2006	Free	10 (0)	1	1 (0)	0	1 (1)	0	0 (0)	0
Man Utd	22/07/1993	15/12/2005	£3,750,000	309 (17)	33	44 (2)	2	12 (2)	0	93 (1)	16
Nottm Forest	12/06/1990	22/07/1993	£10,000	114 (0)	22	18 (0)	3	17 (0)	6	5 (0)	2
Cobh Ramblers	01/08/1989	12/06/1990		No appearance data available
Totals			£3,760,000	433 (17)	56	63 (2)	5	30 (3)	6	98 (1)	18
			goals / game	0.12		0.07		0.18		0.18
				Apps _______	Goals _______	Apps _______	Goals _______	Apps _______	Goals _______	Apps _______	Goals _______

Honours with Celtic

Scottish Premier League

• 2005-06

Scottish League Cup

• 2005-06

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Articles

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Keane: ‘Thought it would be easier at Celtic’

Real Madrid were interested and with hindsight that’s where I should have headed for
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/keane-thought-it-would-be-easier-at-celtic-1.1957912?page=1

Thu, Oct 9, 2014, 17:16

Roy Keane on his options once he knew his career at Old Trafford was over.

Real Madrid offered me a year and a half deal. Everton wanted me to go to them. Bolton, too, who were also on my doorstep. I met Sam Allardyce. But I went to Celtic for fifteen grand a week basic. It was a massive pay cut.

I met Gordon Strachan who told me: “I’m not really too worried if you sign for us or mot. We’re okay without you. So I said to myself: “**** him, I’m signing.”

Michael (Kennedy, my agent) had been over to Madrid and he’d negotiated a deal with Real. Michael had given me a heads-up that Butragueno would be phoning so I took my mobile everywhere with me. And, how’s my luck, he rang me when I was sitting on the toilet.

I should have appreciated Real’s offer more. With hindsight I should have said to myself “Go. Go to Spain, ” live there for a year and a half, learn the language, learn the culture.

The weather and training might have given me another lease of life, two years of playing. But instead – as usual – I was looking at what might go wrong. “Hindsight” is a ****** of a word.

I didn’t want to move to Spain. As much as anything else, it was fear that decided it for me; fear of the unknown. I thought I could make a bigger impact at Celtic than I would have at Everton or Madrid. To be honest, I thought it be a bit easier at Celtic.

Actually, it wasn’t really about which club I should go to. The fact is, the morning I left United I lost the love for the game a little bit.

Don’t go to Celtic

Michael Kennedy begged me not to sign for Celtic. He wasn’t happy with the negotiations or their, ‘take it or leave it,’ approach. But I still think that if I had not signed for Celtic then I would have regretted it.

They’d offered me the least money of any of the clubs. I read somewhere that I went to Celtic for forty or fifty thousand a week but it was fifteen basic that they offered me.

I wasn’t motivated by the money, or just the money, I think there might have been a bit of guilt about that, when I left United, the amount I’d been earning there and earning so much for something I loved doing anyway.

I’d said in interviews over the years ‘I’d like to play for Celtic one day’. I’d said it casually but now I felt I could not go back on my word.

And I wanted to play against Rangers in an Old Firm game. For the atmosphere, the buzz, the experience.

But more than any other consideration, I just thought, ‘I want to treat myself here, ‘I’m going to go where I want to go and **** the money’.

I wouldn’t have called it a dream but I’d always liked Celtic. And the Irish connection would have been on the back of my mind. I felt a bit of loyalty to them. This decision was a purely selfish one. I just wanted to play for Glasgow Celtic. Celtic is a special club.”

First day after training at Celtic.

My hip was ******’ screaming from the warm-up. Not aching, screaming. I couldn’t budge. I thought to myself: “You should have retired. You should have packed it in.” Sometimes you have to be courageous enough to say no. No, is a sentence. Less than a year ago, I’d been in the Highbury tunnel, imposing myself on the game before it started. Now I was lying on a hotel bed wondering if I could get through training.

“My first Old Firm game was at Ibrox and we won 1-0. It was brilliant. The atmosphere was brilliant, ******’ electric. The hatred, I enjoyed all that. I got a yellow card for a foul on Prso and they were baying fora red card.

I was man of the match and that was a little moment of satisfation, another tiny victory. But at this stage I was taking painkillers before every match. An injection in the bum; Diclofenac or Voltarol. The cause of the pain was a labral tear of the hip and I understood that playing on could worsen the tear.

I was taking an injection before the game and at half time just to get through. And you do get through but I’d be in bits. I could justify the painkillers for the Rangers’ game but now I was taking them for every game. That was when I thought ‘this is not good’.

“I’d been taking them in England but only for the big games – Arsenal, City – when I knew I’d physically have to be at my best. Now, common sense was telling me that my days were numbered.

We beat Hearts at Celtic Park in early April and won the league title. I was injured that day. It was hard to to join in the celebrations. I had not played enough. I won League and the League Cupmedals with Celtic but I never really contributed. I look back at my time there and and I’m a bit embarrassed by it.

Why didn’t I go to Everton? I would have regretted not going to Celtic. I liked David Moyes and the chairman Bill Kenwright was very good with Michael Kennedy during the negotiaitons. They had offered me a lot more than Celtic.

But I think I would have found it hard playing for another English team. Which is stupid. Everton might have given me a new lease of life, I might have had two or three more years there.The system they played would have suited me. I would have been a proper sitting midfielder.

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Roy Keane dished out Celtic heckler revenge as Irish comedian claims he paid the price over X-rated taunt

The Manchester United legend was in no mood for the stand-up after the shock defeat to Clyde.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/roy-keane-dished-out-celtic-29341194

Sport
ByMark PirieDaily Record Sports Writer

09:20, 1 MAR 2023Updated09:53, 1 MAR 2023

(Image: SNS)

Comedian Paddy McDonnell has lifted the lid on a fiery exchange with Roy Keane moments after his Celtic debut calamity.

In December 2005, it was announced Keane would be leaving Manchester United as Celtic fought off competition for the star signing, with the stage set at Broadwood Stadium in front of the television cameras as Gordon Strachan’s men faced off against First Division side Clyde. However, the dream move got off to a nightmare start as the Parkhead side crashed out of the Scottish Cup with a 2-1 defeat.

That wasn’t the only reason Keane was raging after the full-time whistle though – with comic McDonnell claiming a fiery Keane pulled him up for a pre-match taunt from the stands. The Irishman lived up to his hardman reputation when he moved to silence the punter after the game. McDonnell claimed on Hot Water’s Green Room podcast: “When Roy Keane came to the club (Celtic), I knew Neil Lennon. Keane first match was against Clyde in the cup, and it was this tiny, tiny stadium.

“It was freezing. When they came I was calling him a f****** Cork Gypsy and he could hear because it was a tiny pitch. He went over to Lennon and said ‘Who the f*** is this c***?’ and Lennon was like ‘I know him, I know him” and all this.

“After the match Lennon had a match-worn top for me, and he said come and meet me outside the ground. I jumped out in front of his car and when I did an arm went round my neck and was choking me.

“All I heard was the voice. ‘Who is f****** Cork Gypsy now ya fat f****** c***?’ then Lenny is like ‘you need to let him go’. Then I look over and he’s walking away to his car and I was like holy f*** – the night that was Keane. Tears etc”

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Ross Wallace reveals Roy Keane’s softer side on Celtic View Podcast
By Paul Gillespie 13 March, 2023 No Comments

Ross Wallace reveals Roy Keane’s softer side on Celtic View Podcast

Roy Keane of Celtic during the Scottish Premier League match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on February 12, 2006 . (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Ross Wallace has been speaking to the Celtic View Podcast, reflecting on Roy Keane’s time at Celtic Park and his personality more generally. Wallace was of course a teammate of Keane’s when the Republic of Ireland man joined the club as a free agent after leaving Man United in 2005. Wallace was an aspiring Celtic first-team player and was surprised when Keane came up to the Scottish Premiership.

Roy Keane and manager Gordon Strachan (R) attend a press conference to announce Keane’s signing for Celtic on December 15, 2005. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

Having a preconception about how Keane would be after watching from afar at his fiery character out there on the football pitch, Wallace was taken aback when Roy turned out to be quite different from what he had initially conceived of the ex-Manchester United captain.

“It was a bit of a strange one actually because we obviously thought he would have that connection with the older players, the former Sunderland and Burnley player said. “But he never. He came right in with the younger lads.

Celtic’s Roy Keane gives his team-mates instructions during his Testimonial soccer match against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Manchester, 09 May 2006. (Photo ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images)

“I think he came into our group which had big Stephen McManus and John Kennedy – all the younger lads. We used to drive to Barrowfield and he used to jump in with us to go to training. You’d think he would jump in with the older and experienced lads. You’d be there in your Corsa and little Volkswagen Polo and you’ve got Roy Keane there sitting in the back.

“Those are little pinch-yourself moments, he was brilliant with the young lads. He was a totally different character to what you see on the TV.” Wallace revealed.

Maciej Zurawaski of Celtic celebrates with Shaun Maloney (L) and Ross Wallace during the League Cup Final between Celtic and Dunfermline at Hampden Park March 19, 2006. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Keane didn’t manage to play for the Hoops for what you would call an extensive period of time, and most likely just wanted to say that he pulled on the famous green and white jersey (as they always do!). However he did have a memorable match against Rangers where he bossed the now liquidated football club in their own backyard at Ibrox. He went onto retire after that short spell in Glasgow’s East End and then headed into management with Sunderland.

Wallace was one of his first signings and the ex-winger revealed that Keane has a softer and more humorous side from what is portrayed on television and the media. The now Burnley coach said: “When I moved to Sunderland I’d see some people getting the wrath of Keano, but at Celtic I think he was quite subdued and laid back. He ended up picking up a hamstring injury and I don’t think he and Gordon saw eye-to-eye.

Roy Keane (L), manager Gordon Strachan (R) and Chief Executive Peter Lawwell (C) attend a press conference to announce Keane’s signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005.. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

“I think he wanted to fulfill playing for Celtic as he was a Celtic man. He wanted that experience of playing for the club. But in terms of the younger lads, he was brilliant with us and attached himself to us which was strange! You’ve got this thing with Roy where he’s always quite stern and straight-faced but he loved a laugh and a joke as well.

He said: “The first day when I went down to Sunderland to meet him and sign, he walks into the living room and asks if I want a cup of tea. Then he has a high chair sitting up there and tried to put me in the high chair! Just little things like that, the little one-liners and jokes. He was brilliant, it just settles you right away and we obviously went on to have a successful season.”

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Roy Keane admits he should never had made his move to Celtic at the end of his career after being left needing painkillers just to get through training.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/roy-keane-admits-celtic-swansong-was-embarrassing-as-man-united-icon-reveals-why-he-should-never-have-moved-north/ar-AA1jYwLs

The Man United icon won the Premier League and Champions League as a player at Old Trafford, making a name for himself as one of the game’s most fearless midfield battlers. He was announced as a Celtic player in December 2005 but with his career winding down, a shock Scottish Cup defeat to Clyde on his debut was only the start of a move the pundit wishes he hadn’t made.

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He retired from football on medical advice after 10 appearances the following summer, and the 52-year-old has revealed a conversation with then-boss Gordon Strachan that provided clarity on his retirement. Keane admits he wasn’t showing the best of himself in green and white as pain started mounting. He told Stick to Football: “I was 34 when I finished. But I should have retired when I left United. I even lost a bit of the love for the game after that.
“I went up to Celtic but my hip was really at me, painkillers for training. I tore my hamstring two or three times up at Celtic. I was commuting. I still had a year left on my contract and I rang Gordon.

“I went to see the hip specialist who said the longer you play on, the worse damage… he was talking about when I retire, about quality of life.

“I rang Gordon Strachan about what do I do. I had gone up there and kind of embarrassed myself, I wasn’t really doing the business. I’d said I am finished but losing sleep before I rang him, as soon as I put the phone down I had closure on my career. I had no hesitation, I wouldn’t say relief, but something lifted off me. When you have had injuries it beats you up.”

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Celtic on This Day

“So you signed a Cork Bhoy today then?” Shane MacGowan

“So you signed a Cork Bhoy today then?” Shane MacGowan
By Matt Corr 15 December, 2023 No Comments
[“So you signed a Cork Bhoy today then?” Shane MacGowan]
Roy Keane arrives at a press conference to announce his signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005.(Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)
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An Irish legend arrives at Celtic…”So you signed a Cork Bhoy today then?”

The one-point lead was already gone by the time Celtic arrived at Pittodrie on the following Sunday, 4 December 2005, a Rudi Skacel double giving Hearts the three points at home to Livingston the day before. And when Jamie Winter fired the Dons in front with a free-kick eight minutes into the second half, Gordon Strachan may have wondered how a side featuring three changes – Mo Camara, Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton making way for Ross Wallace, Shunsuke Nakamura and Maciej Zurawski – would react.
Stilian Petrov celebrates his goal for Celtic

He would have his answer within 10 minutes, by which time the Hoops had scored three times. First, Aiden McGeady reacted quickest to fire a shot high past Ryan Esson, after Bobo Balde’s shot had been blocked then, two minutes later, Stan Petrov did likewise, after the Aberdeen keeper had fumbled a John Hartson drive.
Celtic’s Paul Telfer celebrates after scoring his first goal for the club

Just after the hour, Paul Telfer picked up a short Nakamura corner on the right, evading his man like a regular winger before firing home. This was Paul’s first, and as it transpired, only goal in his Celtic career. More importantly, the crucial one-point advantage had been immediately restored. The fact that news of defending champions Rangers losing yet another two-goal lead that weekend – this time sharing the points with Falkirk at Ibrox – was greeted with something approaching apathy, showed just how much the balance of power had swung in Glasgow in a few short months. The 2005/06 title would be a two-way shoot-out between Celtic and Hearts.

There was another thrilling fightback at Celtic Park six days later, as Hibernian came to town, a young Scott Brown wearing the number seven in their starting line-up, which also featured future Celts Gary Caldwell and Derek Riordan. For the first time, Chinese defender Du Wei took a seat on the substitutes’ bench, where he would remain for the duration of the game. Celtic’s other two dragons were very much involved though, combining expertly for the first goal.

Five minutes from the interval, John Hartson got on the end of Shunsuke Nakamura’s free-kick from the left, to nod the Bhoys in front. The game then turned on its head twice in the opening 20 minutes of the second period. First, Guillaume Beuzelin forced his way in front of his marker Stan Petrov to head Hibs level from a near-post corner, then Steven Fletcher sent a tremendous left-footed volley past Artur Boruc from the edge of the box.

Celts hit back immediately. As the Hibs defence prepared for another Nakamura special, Shaun Maloney stepped up to curl a beautiful dead-ball over the wall and past the stranded Zbeigniew Malkowski. The Celtic winner duly arrived on 65 minutes, Maloney’s shot from a Nakamura cross beating the keeper but rebounding off the far post, only for Hartson to bundle home the fifth and decisive goal of the game.
Celtic striker John Hartson celebrates after scoring the winner.

As against Dundee United back in August, the Welshman was then denied his hat-trick by the width of the crossbar. It would prove a pivotal day in the flag race, Hearts held to a goalless draw at home by Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Celtic’s lead at the top thus extended to three points. Despite that, there was mixed feedback from Gordon Strachan at the post-match debrief.

“It was entertaining for people who came to watch the game, but for the coaches it will be a restless night. We conceded from a set play, and I don’t like losing goals from them, so we have to look at that, and the second. But there was some great stuff, and it was a great game, as I predicted.”

Next up for Strachan’s Hoops was a visit to the Scottish Highlands, to face that same Caledonian Thistle on the following Sunday. Three days before that, however, on Thursday, 15 December 2005, a very special player arrived in Glasgow as an early Christmas present for Celtic supporters.

Just 24 hours before Celtic completed that November double over Rangers, events were unfolding some 200 miles south which would have direct consequences for the player involved and the Parkhead club. An official statement from Manchester United confirmed that skipper Roy Keane had left Old Trafford by mutual consent, a seemingly inevitable conclusion to a series of conflicts between player, teammates and management over recent weeks, which had culminated in an explosive interview with the club’s own TV channel, deemed so contentious it was subsequently never broadcast.

I guess like many Celtic supporters, my ears pricked up at the news and the immediate possibility that he could end up in Glasgow. Roy Keane had for many years epitomised for me the identikit Celtic midfield player. The Cork-born midfielder was a world-class footballing talent with an unbelievable will to win and he had never hidden his admiration for the club.

I had seen photos of him sitting in the Free Broomloan on several occasions and then at the Scottish Cup final of 2002, I had the good fortune to bump into him as I approached Hampden from Aikenhead Road with my two sons, leading to one of my most treasured photographs, Roy and my Bhoys. The highlight of that day as it transpired.

Despite the obvious tensions, both club and player made respectful noises as they parted ways, with the now former Manchester United captain Roy Keane commenting;

“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. 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.”

That was reciprocated by Old Trafford boss, Alex Ferguson;

“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.”

Whilst the 34-year-old Keane had not played since suffering a broken foot at Anfield in September, the comments from all sides made it clear that he would be continuing his playing career elsewhere, with Celtic immediately installed as one of the favourites for his signature. Parkhead manager Gordon Strachan had previously refused to engage in discussions around the possibility of Roy Keane joining Celtic whilst the Irishman was still a contracted Manchester United player, however, that obstacle had now been removed. Even as a man in his mid-40s, I was excited at the prospect of him finally wearing the Hoops, glued to the daily TV updates as the speculation mounted over the coming weeks.

With the Irishman apparently ruling out a move to another English club, despite Everton’s David Moyes and Sam Allardyce at Bolton making hopeful noises, the biggest threat to Celtic securing his signature appeared to come from Real Madrid, where he would join a midfield already including his former Old Trafford teammate David Beckham, the French genius Zinedine Zidane and…er…Thomas Gravesen.

At one point that deal looked sure to go ahead, Keane famously contacted by the club’s vice-president Emilio Butragueno, whilst sitting on the toilet. However, on 4 December 2005, Real Madrid sacked their Brazilian coach Wanderley Luxemburgo, outspoken president Florentino Perez then announcing that any transfer decision would have to wait until the winter break on 21 December. Thankfully, that would prove to be six days too late, as to my absolute delight, on Thursday, 15 December, Roy Keane signed for his boyhood club, Celtic.
Roy Keane attends a press conference to announce his signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

I wasn’t alone. Chief executive Peter Lawwell moved quickly to welcome Keane on behalf of the club, whilst shooting down suggestions that major shareholder Dermot Desmond was funding the signing.

“We are absolutely delighted – the board, management and the players. Dermot Desmond has been a fantastic supporter of this transaction but in terms of his support, that is where it started and ended. There is no financial contribution Dermot will make towards this deal.”
Roy Keane, manager Gordon Strachan and Chief Executive Peter Lawwell attend a press conference to announce Keane’s signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan also expressed his delight.

“He has proved over the last 15 years that he is a competitor. You can’t get enough competitors in your squad and this was too good a chance to miss.”

As always, the doubters were quickly out in force, advising that Roy Keane was too old and/or couldn’t play in the same midfield as Neil Lennon. The Celtic captain, actually six weeks the senior to his fellow Irishman and now in the final year of his own contract, dispelled that particular myth.

“We are quite similar, but that was said about Paul Lambert and myself, a few years back. I wouldn’t envisage any problems with that at all. Roy has experience and will to win, and if he helps us win the title, he will be a great signing.”
Roy Keane and manager Gordon Strachan (R) attend a press conference to announce Keane’s signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

That same subject had cropped up in discussions involving Keane, Lawwell and Strachan at Dermot Desmond’s London home to discuss and ultimately agree the deal. Gordon Strachan later provided a fascinating insight into how that transfer played out, in his autobiography, My life in football.

“The need for Celtic to tighten their purse strings even applied to the signing of Roy Keane. When Roy joined Celtic on a free transfer in December 2005, most people were left wondering how we could afford him and why he should be interested in playing in Scotland. He had been reckoned to be on something like £80,000 a week at Manchester United and it was clear that, though the Premiership clubs who were interested in him could not match that, they would nevertheless be able to take him closer to this figure than we could. When he signed for us, a number of reports indicated that he would be on £40,000 a week at Parkhead and that the deal would be funded partly by Dermot Desmond. But neither was correct.”

“The salary we agreed with him was considerably less than £40,000 a week, and even then, it was dependent on the number of first-team appearances he made. Far from being Celtic’s highest earner when he joined, he was no higher than eighth on the list. Dermot was brilliant in this matter. As one of Roy’s Irish admirers, he wanted Roy on board as much as anybody, but not at the expense of leaving us short of money for the group of younger players I wanted to sign.”
Roy Keane attends a press conference to announce his signing for Celtic on December 15, 2005. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

“I had known for some time that Roy’s United contract was due to expire in the summer of 2006 and that he had expressed the hope that he might be able to end his career with Celtic. Various people around the club – and especially his Irish fans like Eddie Jordan – had alerted me to this almost from the day I started at Parkhead, but it was very much a longshot as far as I was concerned. With more pressing matters to deal with, I just pushed it to the back of my mind. I was amazed when it came off.”

“Coming to Celtic was some decision on Roy’s part. One could argue that he already had enough money in the bank, following his brilliant 12-year career at Old Trafford, but he was only 34 and I cannot think of many people of that age in professional football who would be willing to pass up opportunities to give themselves and their families further financial security.”
Roy Keane arrives at a press conference to announce his signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

“Perhaps the most surprising aspect of his decision was that I could not even promise him a regular place in the team. At our meeting to discuss the move, at Dermot’s house in London, I told him;

“I still see you as a central midfielder, but the problem is that Neil Lennon and Stiliyan Petrov are doing too well in that area to be left out or moved elsewhere. If I had to select a team for the next match, and the three of you were all fit, I would have to plump for Neil and Stiliyan.”

“He was perfectly happy with that, for the simple reason that because of his affection for Celtic during his upbringing in Ireland – an affection shared by countless other people there – he had genuinely set his heart on playing for the club.”

I suspect that over and above those reasons, the challenge of being told he would not be an automatic first pick for Celtic would have been all the additional incentive required for a proud Roy Keane to offset any concerns he may have had about the move to Glasgow.
Roy Keane attends a press conference to announce his signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

In any event, I thought he spoke excellently at his first media conference as a Celtic player.

“I gave other clubs a chance and was impressed with them all, but it’s a great move for me. I feel that this is where I belong and I’m here to work hard and win games. I’ve been in the Premiership for a long time and feel I have proved myself there and needed a different environment. Different teams. Different grounds. Every boy in Ireland has an interest in Celtic, although my English team at the time was Spurs for some reason. I’ve been up to Celtic to watch a few games and always enjoyed my time here. This is not a financial move for me and I’m not coming here for an ego trip or to unwind. I had an important role in front of the back four at United, but I might be given more licence to play here. I push myself hard in training and try to push others hard, and people seemed happy with that until a few weeks ago.”

A great day for me was made even better that evening when my teenage son and I headed over to the south side of Glasgow to watch the Pogues play the O2 Academy. I had been a huge fan of the band for many years without ever managing to see them play live. The atmosphere was incredible, party central as they ran through their playlist, congas in the aisles, a la Inverness a few years later. The works. About an hour into the set, Pogues legendary frontman Shane MacGowan grabs the microphone and addresses the audience;

“So, you signed a Cork Bhoy today then?”

Cue bedlam.

I thought the roof was coming off the place.

One of the best days and nights of my life.

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“I was amazed and thought it was magnificent,” WGS on Celtic’s world class signing

By Editor 13 January, 2024 No Comments

“I was amazed and thought it was magnificent,” WGS on Celtic’s world class signing

Gordon Strachan has had his say on the Roy Keane at Celtic story which was in the news last week after the Manchester United spoke about his time at Celtic on the Gary Neville podcast, criticising the training facilities at Barrowfield (in the days before Lennoxtown) and revealing that he reckoned there were a couple of idiots in the Celtic dressing room.
Roy Keane of Celtic shouts to his team mates during the Scottish Premier League match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on February 12, 2006 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Now Strachan has added to the story by talking about how he told Keane that he would NOT be a guaranteed starter ahead of Neil Lennon and Stan Petrov in the Celtic midfield. This was Strachan’s first season as Celtic manager and the detailed story is told in Matt Corr’s latest book titled Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which is available in the Celtic Star winter sale at HALF PRICE, you can order your copy HERE.
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“Roy trained with us a bit before the transfer window because he had been let go by Manchester United, so he got to know the lads for a fair period of time before he officially signed,” the former Celtic manager said, as reported by Glasgow Times.

“Roy was a different kettle of fish, because you’re talking about a world class player. When it became apparent that we could sign Roy Keane, I was amazed and thought it was magnificent.
Roy Keane poses with Celtic manager Gordon Strachan at Celtic Park, 15 December 2005. The 34-year-old has signed a deal until the summer of 2007 with the Glasgow giants after his contract with Manchester United was terminated by mutual consent. (Photo credit IAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)

“But I had a problem; we were unbeaten in so many games and I had Lennon and Petrov in the middle of the park.

“I used to play with two wingers and a forward player that would come back in and drop off the main striker, so I had no idea how I was going to fit him in there. I had to speak to Roy Keane and tell him that he wasn’t going to be starting.

“The conversation started with us just staring at each other over the table, and I was genuinely so excited to have him at Celtic with me and I was never interested in the circumstances as to why he left Manchester United.

“So I was honest with him and I said, ‘Listen, it’s great having you here, but if I’m picking a team tomorrow, you aren’t in it.’ Without hesitation, he said he was absolutely fine with that, even though I could see he absolutely wasn’t okay with that.

“But I have to say that I got on tremendously well with Roy and I still do to this day if we do TV work together. I find myself gravitating towards him.”

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