Soccer: Keane expelled from Irish squad after outbursts

9.00am

The expulsion of captain Roy Keane from Ireland's World Cup squad caps a season of frustration for the Manchester United midfielder and appears to have ended his international career.

Ireland's straight-talking coach Mick McCarthy was left with little choice after Keane's public criticism of the team's World Cup travel and training arrangements.

In recent weeks the Manchester United captain has resembled a walking volcano, castigating his colleagues for their deficiencies as the club finished a troubled campaign trophy-less.

Despite being hindered by persistent knee problems, Keane's robotic intensity as he tried to salvage something from United's worst premier league campaign in a decade was both impressive and frightening.

When United surrendered their premier league crown to Arsenal at Old Trafford on May 8, Keane's personal display was outstanding.

Having missed United's 1999 Champions League triumph through suspension, Keane was desperate to reach this year's final. But despite scoring a fine goal in Germany, he could not prevent United losing in the semifinals to Bayer Leverkusen.

When Keane trudged off the pitch that night, the Irishman wore the frustrated expression of a man thwarted by the failings of those around him.

Off the pitch, Keane is a softly-spoken character whose soft Cork accent belies the often rasping content of his comments.

On it, Keane is the most competitive player in the English premier league.

He dominates his midfield opponents with his fearsome tackling, constructive passing and unflagging energy.

Strong in the air, quick and with an eye for goal, the volatile Irishman has only one weakness -- a tendency to lose his cool and get sent off.

Spotted by Nottingham Forest as a raw 18-year-old playing for Cobh Ramblers in Ireland, Keane was brought to England in 1990 where he blossomed under Forest's inspirational manager Brian Clough.

Clough took a firm line with the youngster. When Keane scored the winning goal in an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Norwich and performed a celebratory somersault, the Forest boss told him to "go and join the circus" if he wanted to carry on like that.

The no-nonsense approach worked and when Keane moved to Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 1993, he became what he is today -- a powerful force in the game, the envy of managers around Europe.

The difference this season is that, for once, United failed to win any trophies, something that will have rankled Keane more than almost anyone else at Old Trafford.

Now the malaise has poisoned his relationship with the Ireland team.

A combination of family reasons, fitness problems and general disenchantment with life appeared to cause Keane to lose his rag over Ireland's training facilities.

"It was just the tip of the iceberg," said the midfielder who had already threatened to quit the World Cup before Thursday's dramatic development.

McCarthy's uncompromising response could well mean that Keane has played his last game for Ireland after 58 distinguished appearances.

But at the age of 30, the hardman midfielder who played in all four of Ireland's games at USA 94, is unlikely to get another chance to play in a World Cup finals.

- REUTERS

More Soccer World Cup stories

Team lists | Schedule | Previous Winners

Interactive graphics:
Draws and team profiles