Roy Keane
Full name: Roy Maurice Keane
Born: 10 August 1972 in Mayfield, Cork City (Republic of Ireland)
Nationality: Irish
Nickname: Keano
Playing career: Youth football 1979-1989: Rockmount AFC; 1989-1990: Cobh Ramblers; 1990-1993: Nottingham Forest; 1993-2005: Manchester United; 2005-2006: Celtic.
Honours as a player: English Premier League: 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003; FA Cup: 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004; FA Community Shield: 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003; UEFA Champions League: 1999; Intercontinental Cup: 1999; Scottish Premier League, Scottish League Cup: 2006, 2000 Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year. 66 caps and 9 goals for the Republic of Ireland. Inducted into English Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Only Irishman in Pele’s FIFA 100 greatest living footballers.
Coaching career: since August 2006: Sunderland. Honours 2006-2007: Football League Championship; 2006-2007: Championship Manager of the Season.
Miscellaneous: The father-of-five is married to Theresa. His hobbies include mountain biking and walking his pet labrador, Triggs. His favourite drink is green tea. Supports Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. The theatre comedies I, Keano and The Roykeaneiad Parts 1 and 2 are based on Keane’s dispute with Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™.

Defeat keeps him going
In his playing days, Roy Keane was an inspirational presence on the field for Manchester United and Ireland and now the Sunderland manager is proving to be an inspirational figure on the touch line as well -but only because he has changed his ways.
Roy Keane was a force of nature as he helped United dominate English football and led Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to the pinnacle of European football, and the Republic of Ireland to two FIFA World Cup™ finals but the former midfield powerhouse has made a conscious effort to calm down.
A glittering playing career at Old Trafford was marred by a succession of disciplinary problems that earned him 13 red cards in his 12 trophy-laden years at the club and also gained him a reputation for being the scourge of the authorities. Pictures of veins popping out of his head as he hounded referee Andy D’Urso at Old Trafford were a lasting reminder of his bad old days.
However, having mellowed in management, nowadays, the 36-year-old is barely recognisable from the intimidating all-conquering, all-singing, all-dancing days as the captain of club and country but despite the transformation, he is still driven by a determination to succeed.
“I had to make that conscious effort to be restrained on the touch line because otherwise it would lead to an early grave,” Keane said. “As a player I was in the middle of the park and I tried to leave my mark but I had to change for the good of my health when I became a manager. Believe me, it’s very hard to stay quiet on the touch line but I decided I would not be ranting and raving on the sidelines because I’d lose focus. If I’m going to lose my rag, I want to do it in the privacy of our dressing-room. There’s logic to it. It saps you of your energy and then maybe you can’t get a clear thought on the game. I try to keep calm. Maybe it just comes with maturity.”
Underpinning his success is a no-nonsense disciplinary streak that once saw him leave three players – Marton Fulop, Tobias Hysen and Anthony Stokes – behind in Sunderland when they were late for a bus headed to Barnsley where his under-strength side won 2-0.
Keane also takes a dim view of dissent from his players and demands respect for officials, and he is happy to accept he is a poacher turned gamekeeper.
“There’s a line that should not be crossed but the problem for me when I comment is people who say ‘How can you?’” Keane said. “I was a player then and I’m a manager now but it doesn’t mean to say I can’t learn from my mistakes. I spoke to my staff in my first week in the job about respecting referees. I don’t want anyone abusing officials at the club and I recently pulled two youth team players to one side because of their attitude in a game.”
Keane is already being tipped by Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan to return to OldTrafford to manage the club he served with such distinction following an impressive start to his new career at the Stadium of Light.
SURPRISING APPOINTMENT
Just months after hanging up his boots on doctor’s advice due to hip problems, Keane was surprisingly appointed as Sunderland manager when the ailing club was rooted to the foot of the Championship.
With the backing of the club’s new Irish owners, the Drumaville consortium led by chairman Niall Quinn, the rookie was an instant hit and, with former United colleague Dwight Yorke at his side, Sunderland went from relegation contenders to champions to secure promotion back to the top tier of English football.
Despite winning the Championship, Keane turned down the offer of a celebratory open-top bus parade around Wearside. “The club’s done that a few times and ended up with egg on their face by going back down,” Keane said. “It’s important we don’t get carried away.”
Despite Sunderland’s upward mobility and Keane’s huge status in English football, he found it difficult to attract highly-rated players to a “yo-yo club” and his frustration prompted him to publicly vent his spleen against hen-pecked footballers.
“These so-called big stars are people we are supposed to be looking up to. Well, they’re weak and soft,” Keane said. “If they don’t want to come here because their wife wants to go shopping in London, it’s a sad state of affairs. Priorities have changed for footballers and they’re being dictated to by wives and girlfriends.”
Nevertheless, following the shrewd signing of Trinidad & Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones from Southampton, Keane put Sunderland on course for Premier League survival.
CLOUGH, THE “GENIUS”
He has left no stone unturned as he strives to consolidate Sunderland among the elite to the extent that he had the final say on the design of a new kit. “You don’t see good teams wearing bad kits and I want us to have a beautiful kit,” said Keane who ordered a facelift of ground and training facilities following his appointment.
Although he made his name as Sir Alex Ferguson’s captain at United, Keane’s football career began in earnest under the late Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and he remains inspired by his former mentor.
“Brian Clough was an absolute genius and Forest won the League and two European Cups with him and that gives me great hope for the future,” Keane said.
Outside help has been enlisted, with Keane bringing in sports psychologists to talk to his players in the shape of former Olympic high-jumper Steve Smith, and Bill Beswick, who has worked with United and England.
“Sometimes it’s just a case of being open-minded, getting out of the box and thinking a bit differently to the others,” said Keane who will head to New Zealand this summer to study rugby’s All Blacks as part of his UEFA Pro Licence Course.
Keane became accustomed to success as a player but insists he has always been more motivated by defeat rather than triumph, which stands him in good stead for the challenges at struggling Sunderland. “The hatred of defeat goes back to when I was a kid,” Keane said. “I moved on from success as a player very quickly but defeats were always the ones that kept you going. I haven’t got a clue what year I won anything but I do know when I got relegated. I do know when I lost cup finals. I do know when I lost leagues.”
Keane is due to begin talks about a new contract with Sunderland this summer and is optimistic about the long-term future.
“If this club was in the top half of the league and pushing on, the place would take off and that is the challenge there,” he said. “We did the easy part in winning promotion. It’s about stabilising this year and then kicking on, bringing in quality players because we know we are not far away. Anything is possible here. If we’re getting 44,000 on a regular basis now, the potential is fantastic and I believe I’m the man to fulfil it.”

The Stadium
Name: St James’ Park
Address: St James’ Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 4ST, England
Opened: 1880
Last renovation: August 2000
No. of seats: 52387
Covered: 100%
Record attendance: 68386 (Newcastle v. Chelsea, 3 September 1930)
Home team: Newcastle United
Internet: www.nufc.co.uk

St James’ Park like a cathedral
I don’t care what anybody says, you can go around the world twice if you like and you would not get an atmosphere like that anywhere else,” said Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan after his side had beaten local rivals Sunderland 2-0 at St James’ Park. “I’ve played in derbies at Liverpool, I’ve played in the Maracana for England and at the Boca Juniors ground in Argentina but this is the best place in the world when you’re winning. It’s a tough place if you are not going well, but hey, those are the rules of the game.”
Of course, the former England head coach might not be the most impartial observer but it is his boyish enthusiasm and passion for football that is so typical of the supporters of a club that has been synonymous with underachievement but which is still virtually packed out at every single home game.
Like a cathedral, St James’ Park rises above the Newcastle landscape and looms over the Tyneside city centre but its central location has heavily influenced redevelopment plans due to the proximity of historic buildings right next to the ground.
It has meant that Newcasde United’s home has a slightly uneven look since it was given a makeover — completed in August 2000 when 51,327 witnessed a 3-2 win over Derby – but as far as Keegan is concerned that adds to its charm. “I think, for me, it is just about the best football stadium in this country and that is no disrespect to any other,” Keegan said. “I just think it is fantastic. It is probably because we have the three high stands and the one low side that in some way makes it very special.”
A LONG-TERM LEASE
Football was first played on the land now occupied by St James’ Park in October 1880 although the area used to have far graver connotations because the city’s main execution site was located in the area. Indeed, according to research, the hangman’s site was very close to the stadium which explains why one side of the ground is now called “The Gallowgate End”, even though the last hanging took place there 36 years before football took centre stage. Since then four clubs have called St James’ Park home — Newcastle Rangers, Newcastle West End and Newcastle East End, who moved there in 1892 shortly before Newcastle United emerged.
In those days, footballers had to cope with a steep slope that saw an 18-foot drop between the north and south sides of the pitch and a rutted surface because the ground also doubled as grazing land for local butchers. United and the upmarket residents of the architecturally impressive Leazes Terrace proved to be uneasy bedfellows as the club tried to move with the times. However, despite their differences and the tough planning laws in England which protect historic buildings, the two parties have learned to co-exist. Initially, though, they failed to hit it off and, according to Newcastle’s website, die well-to-do residents made an official complaint describing football as an “intolerable nuisance”.
Officials toyed with the idea of moving but stood firm and at the turn of the 20th century a stadium started to take shape following the erection of a corrugated iron fence. At this time, the ground was able to accommodate 30,000 spectators before the arena doubled in size as the club went from strength to strength, dominating English football and winning the Football League three times in quick succession. Until recently, United’s uncomfortable position as local council tenants – now improved by virtue of a long-term lease – had thwarted development plans and apparently some fans still feel aggrieved that they missed out on the 1966 FIFA World Cup1″ finals.
“It was no surprise when the World Cup organisers decided against St James’ Park and handed the group stage matches to Middlesbrough instead,” club historian Paul Joannou said. “Newcastle missed out on the biggest feast of football Britain has ever witnessed.”
“GEORDIE MESSIAH”
That is a shame because such is Newcastle’s extraordinary passion for football that 20,000 supporters turned up to welcome Michael Owen to the north-east of England in August 2005 following his move from Real Madrid. That was reminiscent of the day a similar number of fans welcomed Alan Shearer back to Newcastle outside the ground when the club broke the world transfer record by paying Blackburn GBP 15 million for the England star following EURO 1996. Shearer’s arrival fuelled the notion that Newcastle were outgrowing their traditional home and its 37,000-capacity and chairman Sir John Hall spearheaded plans to build a new arena on the neighbouring Leazes Park.
Plans for a 70,000-capacity arena, based on Milan’s San Siro, were drawn up by architects but the project bitterly divided the city and was effectively abandoned in November 1997 in favour of expanding St James’ Park. Nowadays, club owner Mike Ashley is considering raising the roof to fit in more fans at St James’ Park thanks to the success of Keegan, the so-called “Geordie Messiah” who has invigorated the club since he returned to take over from Sam Allardyce last January.

The Stadium
Name: Luzhniki Olympic Complex
Address: Luzhnetskaya Naberezhnaya, 24, Moscow, Russia
Opened: 1956
Last renovation: 1995
No. of seats: 84 745
Covered: 70%
Home teams: Torpedo Moscow, Spartak Moscow, CSKA Moscow, Russian national team
Internet: www.luzhniki.ru

Luzhniki – a colossal feat of engineering
The Luzhniki stadium is a typical product of the Soviet era. The authorities first came up with the idea of building a huge sports stadium in the mid-1950s. Soviet athletes of that time had already proved that they were capable of competing at an international level, and the country needed a large, multifunctional arena to allow further development and to stage the pan-Soviet Games, the Spartakiads.
They chose the perfect location, just five kilometres from the Kremlin, facing a picturesque bank of the Moskva river and surrounded by magnificent parks. The “Big Moscow Stadium”, as it was initially known, was built in a record time of 450 days, despite the huge difficulties caused by die extremely swampy soil on the site. Thousands of people from across the country took part in what was a colossal feat of engineering. The opening ceremony was held on 31 July 1956. A year later, the Luzhniki was the main venue for the World Youth Festival, welcoming 35,000 young people from more than 130 countries. The complex was constantly developed in the decades that followed, providing a magnificent showcase for the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980.
The Central Lenin Stadium, as the Luzhniki Olympic Complex was also known in the past, consisted of more than 100 buildings and embodied the majestic Stalinist architectural style. It spans close to 180 hectares, and with its swimming pool, skating rink, tennis courts and numerous multifunctional halls, it has proved to be an outstanding venue for many world and European championships in sports such as ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics.
As well as being a stage for national and international sporting events, the Luzhniki was also a place where ordinary people could enjoy sports. Scientists from medical and physical training research institutes worked together with stadium staff to develop methodology and special programmes that would improve the well-being of middle-aged and elderly sections of the population through sport, while thousands of kids got their first taste of sporting competition at the Luzhniki.
PELE’S GOALS
Following the collapse of communism, the arena became an outstanding stage for international pop and rock stars. The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Rammstein and many others wooed Russian crowds at the Luzhniki stadium. First and foremost, however, the venue is famous as the venue for the incredible football battles of old, when crowds of 100,000 would cheer on legendary Soviet players like Lev Yashin, Nikita Simonyan, Eduard Streltsov, Oleg Blokhin and Rinat Dasaev in their matches against the powers of world football.
On 4 July 1965, 102,000 fans saw the legendary Pele score two goals in a friendly game between the USSR and reigning world champions Brazil. Despite the painful 3-0 defeat, the Soviet crowd marvelled at the skills of the Brazilian wizards. It was a useful lesson, for just four months later the soon-to-be FIFA World Cup™ semi-finalists silenced a crowd of 132,000 at Rio’s Maracana stadium by holding the home team to a 2-2 draw.
Besides being the main arena for the Russian (and formerly Soviet) national team, the Luzhniki is also the home venue for Spartak Moscow, one of the most successful clubs in the country’s history. Following the huge political changes in Russia in the early 1990s, the privatised stadium became the home of Torpedo Moscow, a club actually owned by the complex proprietors. However, Spartak continued to use the pitch. What is more, the venue now also plays host to CSKA Moscow, as the former army club’s own arena, as well as its temporary home in Dinamo Moscow’s legendary stadium, are closed for reconstruction.
RETURN OF NATURAL GRASS
By the mid-1990s, the magnificent arena was in a poor condition following years of neglect. The stadium was outdated and no longer able to meet modern standards, so it was decided to start renovation immediately. Two years later, an encircling roof was constructed over the whole seating area. The wooden benches were replaced by plastic seats, and the initial capacity of 100,000 was reduced to just under 85,000. The whole area under the tribunes, from the dressing rooms and media centres to the cafes and offices, was redesigned and rebuilt to meet modern requirements. In 1998, the arena was good enough to earn recognition from FIFA and UEFA, who granted the Luzhniki the status of a five-star stadium. It was chosen to host the following year’s UEFA Cup final, Almost 70,000 fans saw a brilliant Parma team beat Marseille 3-0 on a chilly night in Moscow on 12 May 1999.
However, not everything about the stadium was perfect. The next item in the plan of modernisation was to cover the area above the pitch with a sliding roof, but the stadium engineers came across a problem. In the cold Russian climate it has always been extremely difficult to cultivate grass. Now, with the roof depriving the grass of sunlight, the pitch was unusable after just a few matches. The natural pitch was replaced several times, but eventually a FIFA-approved artificial turf pitch was installed.
In May 2008, natural grass returned to the stadium for the first time in eight years when the Luzhniki was once again chosen as the venue for a major European football match – the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea. This was the ultimate recognition of the stadium’s quality, although as Muscovites will tell you, they will only really be satisfied when they have a ticket for the FIFA World Cup™ final in their home stadium.