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Roy Keane

Roy Keane is an Irish former professional footballer, coach, and television pundit best known for captaining Manchester United during a highly successful period under Sir Alex Ferguson.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Roy Keane is an Irish former professional footballer, coach, and television pundit best known for captaining Manchester United during a highly successful period under Sir Alex Ferguson. Born in Cork in 1971, he also played for Nottingham Forest and Celtic and represented the Republic of Ireland internationally. He is well known to Canadian soccer fans through Premier League coverage, Irish football diaspora interest, and his role as a television pundit on widely followed international broadcasts.

Early life and club career

Roy Keane was born in Cork in 1971. He began his career in Irish football before moving to Nottingham Forest and then Manchester United. His Manchester United years made him one of the most successful Irish players of his generation.

Manchester United career

Keane joined Manchester United in 1993 and became a central figure in the club’s midfield and captaincy. He was captain and won multiple major trophies. He left the club in November 2005 after a breakdown in relations with manager Sir Alex Ferguson and public criticism of teammates.

Later playing career and retirement

After leaving Manchester United, Keane played briefly for Celtic and won domestic honours in Scotland. He retired from playing in 2006 because of a recurring hip problem.

Coaching and media career

Keane later moved into management and coaching, including spells with Sunderland and Ipswich Town. He has also become a prominent football pundit.

Key facts

  • Keane was born in Cork in 1971.
  • He captained Manchester United and won multiple major trophies.
  • He also played for Nottingham Forest and Celtic.
  • He later managed Sunderland and Ipswich Town.
  • He is widely known as a football pundit.
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Canadian context

Roy Keane is well known to Canadian soccer fans through Premier League coverage, Irish football diaspora interest, and his role as a television pundit on widely followed international broadcasts.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Roy Keane?
Roy Keane is an Irish former professional footballer, coach, and pundit best known for captaining Manchester United.
How old is Roy Keane?
He was born on 10 August 1971, which makes him 54 years old as of 23 July 2026.
What teams did Roy Keane play for?
He played for Rockmount, Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Celtic, and the Republic of Ireland national team.
Why did Roy Keane leave Manchester United?
He left Manchester United in 2005 after tension with Sir Alex Ferguson and criticism of teammates, with the club announcing his departure on 18 November 2005.
What is Roy Keane's net worth?
A reliable, consistently sourced net worth figure was not found in the provided results, so it is best treated as unverified.
Is Roy Keane a manager?
He has been a manager in the past, including at Sunderland and Ipswich Town, but he is not currently known primarily as a full-time club manager.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Keane
    Supports: Birth date, main playing career, trophies, and retirement year.
  2. Manchester United — https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/roy-keane
    Supports: Date of birth, position, appearances, joined date, and date he left Manchester United.
  3. National Football Museum — https://nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/roy-keane/
    Supports: Clubs, departure from Manchester United, and later Celtic spell.
  4. Sky Sports — https://www.skysports.com/football/news/4587928/roy-keane-the-facts
    Supports: Career timeline including Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, retirement, and Sunderland managerial appointment.
  5. Sky — https://www.sky.com/watch/the-overlap-on-tour/who-is-roy-keane
    Supports: Overview of his career as player, coach, and pundit.
  6. Wikipedia (French) — https://www.fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Keane
    Supports: Early career at Rockmount FC, birth in Cork, and retirement due to recurring hip problems.