Premier League - Keane leaves Sunderland

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Dec 08:59:00 2008

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has resigned from the club following a dreadful run of form.

2008-2009 Premier League Sunderland Roy Keane - 0

Five defeats from their last six Premier League games have seen Sunderland slip to third from bottom in the table and led Keane to decide his future lies away from the club.

The Irishman has walked away from the Stadium of Light following three days of discussions between Keane, chairman Niall Quinn and other advisers.

Ricky Sbragia takes over in a caretaker role, assisted by Dwight Yorke and Neil Bailey.

Quinn said: "Roy deserves huge respect for his contribution and the manner in which he guided the club from the depths of the Championship back to the Premier League.

"His winning mentality and singled mindedness were just what this club needed when Drumaville took over shortly before his arrival.

"Roy's decision to stand aside and allow someone else to take charge of the next chapter sums up his desire to always do what is best for the club. Even in his departure he has been more concerned for the welfare of the players and his staff than himself."

Keane took over in August 2006 after a poor start to the season under temporary boss Quinn, leading the Wearside outfit into the top flight by the season's end.

He voiced his self-doubt last weekend regarding his ongoing suitability for the post after the 4-1 home defeat by Bolton Wanderers which featured an appalling defensive performance.

He said: "I ask myself every day if I'm the right man for Sunderland.

"I asked myself this morning, and I said I was. Sunday morning, if the answer's no, we'll have to look at it."

The 37-year-old spent over £60 million on players in less than two seasons in the Premier League, but summer signings such as Anton Ferdinand, Pascal Chimbonda, El-Hadji Diouf and Steed Malbranque have largely failed to deliver.

Keane was due to hold a regular media conference on Thursday ahead of Sunderland's match against his former club Manchester United on Saturday.

After the visit to Old Trafford, Sunderland face crunch matches against West Bromwich Albion, Hull City and Blackburn Rovers.

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: Signed by Brian Clough for Nottingham Forest for £10,000.

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 - Joins Manchester United for then British transfer record £3.75million after 154 matches and 33 goals for Forest.

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

1995: Sent off for first time in career for stamping on Crystal Palace's Gareth Southgate during FA Cup semi-final replay. Later fined £5,000.

Two more red cards follow 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.

August - Named United captain following Eric Cantona's departure.

September - Injures his knee trying to foul Leeds' Alf Inge Haaland at Elland Road. Misses rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.

1999: 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.

November - Scores the goal which earns 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: May - Named PFA and Football Writers' Association player of the year before lifting another Premier League title.

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: 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 horrific pre-meditated lunge at Haaland in United's derby encounter with Manchester City.

September - Dismissed for the ninth time in his United career after raising his hands at Newcastle's Alan Shearer.

2002: May - Keane is sent home from the World Cup after a row with Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

August - Admits in his autobiography that his red-card tackle on Haaland was deliberate.

September - Sent off for elbowing Jason McAteer during Manchester United's 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

October - Banned for five matches and fined £150,000 over Haaland incident.

2003: February - 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.

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

April - Announces he will play for Republic of Ireland.

May - Makes first appearance for Ireland since McCarthy bust-up in friendly with Romania.

2005: February - Involved in tunnel row with Patrick Vieira before United's 4-2 win against Arsenal.

August - Sir Alex Ferguson admits he had a row with Keane at United's pre-season training camp in Portugal in July.

October - Announces his international retirement for a second time.

November - Leaves Manchester United by mutual consent.

December - Signs for Celtic in an 18-month deal.

2006: January - Makes Celtic debut in embarrassing Scottish Cup defeat to First Division Clyde.

May - Finishes the season at Celtic, who win the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

June - Announces his retirement from football.

August - Confirmed as new manager of Sunderland.

2007: April - Earns automatic promotion to the Premier League for Sunderland. Team clinches Championship title the following week.

2008: May - Sunderland finish three points clear of relegation zone.

September - Says he will not "tolerate people abusing me" after fans react angrily to an unconvincing Carling Cup win over Northampton.

December 4 - Leaves Sunderland after crisis talks on Wearside.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport

Comment 213 - 232 of 272

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  1. When you are a dirty Man U player, you have the luxury­ of a whining egotistical manager howling at the ref­ because your team do not get all the decisions. (By­ the way Fergie keep your silence against the Beeb as I­ hate your smug comments - do not need you). If this­ does not work, you have to dish out some stick­ physically and verbally to get your way. If this does­ not work get some of the other Scumchester players to­ back you up as you harrass the ref (Keane & Stam­ disgracefully going at D'urso a few years back). ­ Then the lovely MUFC win again again etc. But when you­ go up against Ferguson you are out the door and end up­ at another club. After Celtic you (lets be fair) take­ a risk by joining the Mackems who were heading to Div­ 1. Fair play Keane, you did well but you cannot­ intimidate people like when you were a player and have­ to rely on getting players you bought to perform. Nice­ try but it did not happen. You are loaded and do not­ need the @#$% of managing. Do something else that will­ cater for the foul mouthed bully in you. Gary Toon Fan­ in Kent.

    From Gary T, on Thu 4 Dec 8:33PM

  2. Roy Keane is a Legend and a True Professional. To all­ those with negative comments, you should be ashamed of­ yourselves, but you obviously know @#$% all about Roy­ Keane and football in general to make them.

    From Joga_Bonito, on Thu 4 Dec 8:29PM

  3. maybe roy can become boro's mascot.....he won't­ need a costume

    From Harry, on Thu 4 Dec 8:18PM

  4. Alex Ferguson, rates Roy Keane as one of the best ever­ player he's ever managed. I am sure its common to­ most of us that share an interest in football from a­ sports perspective just how much Roy has achieved as a­ player and Sir Alex within management. Not only has Roy­ reached outstanding levels of ability, fitness and­ physical strength to play at the highest possible­ standard that most of us at grass roots can only dream­ of doing! The many trophies, awards and respect from­ world class footballers that he has developed within­ the game itself should show significant evidence to­ suggest that anyone who has achieved success to such a­ high standard is unlikely to have had the mind set of a­ quitter! To even achieve becoming a professional­ sportsperson takes vasts amounts of effort, ability,­ determination, commitment, fitness.... Therefore­ playing in the premiership for Manchester United who­ have been the most sucessful team in Britian over the­ last 10 years, and winning so many honours as captain­ ie: Premiership titles, European silverware, FA cups,­ PFA awards.... because of these simple but honest­ "facts" they puts into question the term­ quitter being linked to Roy Keane by anyone as­ untruthful. To date all his achievements that require­ the mentioned elements of effort and determination and­ like any human thats ever lived Vs his downfalls (which­ of course may involve negative elements of frustration­ and being downhearted at times) Its safe to say as the­ sky is blue on a clear sunny day and fire will burn­ wood when fully lit! Roy Keanes achievements outweigh­ his failures and that of many others who have competed­ in sports.

    From stephen d, on Thu 4 Dec 8:03PM

  5. I wish i could just walk away from my job when it gets­ tough...

    From Rob J, on Thu 4 Dec 7:58PM

  6. good luck sunderland fans although i think you will do­ better without him!!!

    From John Hartley, on Thu 4 Dec 7:55PM

  7. He was a dirty @#$% as a player. He's got his­ comeuppance at last.

    From Aidan, on Thu 4 Dec 7:52PM

  8. keano will never be forgotten at old trafford ,and as­ for the sunderland fans who are having a stab at him­ now ,remember where you were when he took over @­ sunderland emmmmm bottom of the championship.
    you­ couldnt buy a win at the time and he has made you a­ premiership team again with a reasonable squad.keano­ will be back fergie should bring him back to old­ traffordand teach him how to become the ultimate­ manager and take over when fergie retires.
    keano theres­ only 1 keano.

    From t.t.baker, on Thu 4 Dec 7:47PM

  9. Roy is a psycho, always has been and has done a Keegan­ as it is getting tough. Good luck to the fans at­ Sunderland

    From taff, on Thu 4 Dec 7:46PM

  10. Sunderland F.C. is great and will be better without Roy­ Keane.

    From Lizzy Ingram, on Thu 4 Dec 7:43PM

  11. Big baby. He can get a seasonal job as Santa Claus with­ that daft beard.

    From Get rid of the Lords, on Thu 4 Dec 7:41PM

  12. Shawn-213
    You absolute clown: 'you deserve a better­ squad!!'
    Erm whose squad was it?
    It was his squad,­ or have you forgotten the small matter of £80 million­ he has blown on a bunch of never-weres. Keano has just­ about bankrupted your club; you can't even sell the­ dross on either as, with the exception of Jones,­ they're worthless. The legend paid way over the­ odds for mediocrity, and your best player (Sissy boy),­ isn't even yours!!! Not so smug now are we girls;­ the fog on the Tyne is lifting and the wear just gets­ queerer by the day - it's called comeuppance, and­ you are getting yours.

    From cameron w, on Thu 4 Dec 7:31PM

  13. Have a nice holiday Roy and think of a new job for your­ talents. Any suggestions?

    From Chaseboy, on Thu 4 Dec 7:30PM

  14. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha lets all laugh at scumberland­ lets all laugh at scumberland ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ur­ all a bunch of sad mackum bas***ds ha ha ha ha ha ha ha­ ha ha ha ha

    From bill.olsen, on Thu 4 Dec 7:20PM

  15. he looks like he is mophing into a newcastle­ manager,look at his goaty.

    From jason.walton7, on Thu 4 Dec 7:13PM

  16. Maybe he'll find time for a shave now.

    From Nina G, on Thu 4 Dec 7:12PM

  17. whats the chance he ends up @ the toon

    From homeviewpaving, on Thu 4 Dec 7:08PM

  18. And NEVER buys a drink. Hence the barshy. Gutless­ nobody.

    From stevendavey, on Thu 4 Dec 7:03PM

  19. He has always been a barshy bully boy @#$% who thinks­ everyone owes hime a living. As I said @#$% runaway­ COWARD!!

    From stevendavey, on Thu 4 Dec 7:02PM

  20. Problem was the players at sunderland don't have­ the fight and passion as Keane.
    Keane will come back­ stronger

    From andy, on Thu 4 Dec 7:02PM
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