Roy Keane: The highs and lows

HIGHES

1990 - SNAPPED UP BY CLOUGH: Gets his big break in professional football when Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough signs him from League of Ireland club Cobh Ramblers for £10,000. Does not take long to make an impact, making his debut for Forest at Liverpool and being named Barclays Young Eagle of the Month for December.

1991 - INTERNATIONAL DEBUT: Impresses Jack Charlton enough to hand him his international bow for the Republic of Ireland in 1-1 draw with Chile in Dublin.

1993 - THE BIG-MONEY MOVE: After competition from a host of clubs he joins Manchester United for a then British transfer record fee of £3.75million after 154 matches and 33 goals for Forest.

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

1994 - AMERICAN ADVENTURE: Helps the Republic reach the second round of the World Cup in the United States, figuring in all four matches.

1996 - DOUBLE DOUBLE: An inspirational presence as United clinch historic second double with 1-0 FA Cup final win over Liverpool.

1997 - THE NATURAL SUCCESSOR: Eric Cantona's retirement from professional football opens up a vacancy for the United captaincy, which Sir Alex Ferguson has no hesitancy over naming Keane as the new man.

1999 - THE MATCHWINNER: Scores the goal which earns United a 1-0 Toyota Cup victory over Palmeiras of Brazil. United are the first British club to lift the Inter-Continental Cup.

2000 - TALENTS RECOGNISED: Named PFA and Football Writers' Association player of the year before lifting Premier League title for the sixth time in eight years.

2003 - CHAMPIONS: Lifts the Premier League trophy at Goodison Park as United hold off Arsenal for the title.

2004 - RETURN TO THE FOLD: Makes first appearance for Ireland since Mick McCarthy bust-up in friendly with Romania.

2005 - GOALSCORING LANDMARK: Scores his 50th goal for United in 2-0 Premier League win over Birmingham.

2005 - SIGNS FOR CELTIC: Joins club he always hoped to play for, and goes on to help Celtic win Scottish Premier League title in 2006.

2006 - MOVES INTO MANAGEMENT: Appointed boss at Sunderland early in 2006-07 season.

2007 - WINS PROMOTION: Steers Sunderland to Coca-Cola Championship title having taken over the side in the relegation zone.

2009 - RETURNS TO MANAGEMENT: Appointed boss at Ipswich Town on a two-year deal.

LOWS

1991 - RUN-IN WITH BIG JACK: Even as a teenager, Keane was not afraid to stand up to authority. Following a friendly against the United States, the Republic of Ireland team were allowed a night out. The next morning, with departure set for 7.30am, the team were kept waiting until 8am by Keane, invoking the wrath of manager Jack Charlton.

1999 - KEANE "ANNOYED" BY CONTRACT OFFER: Keane admitted his unhappiness with the first new contract offer he received from Manchester United. He said: "I was a bit annoyed with the first offer put to me. Deep down they must have known it wasn't something I could sign. Our dealings have to be realistic. I am not naive enough to settle for anything less than a reasonable valuation of my worth."

2000 - KEANE FURIOUS WITH LETTER TO FANS: Keane brands United's decision to blame his £52,000-a-week wages for the hike in season ticket prices as "a stupid mistake". The club sent a letter to fans claiming that one of the reasons for the ticket increases was Keane's wage rise.

2000 - THE PRAWN SANDWICH AFFAIR: Keane hits out at sections of Manchester United's support following what he felt was a poor atmosphere in the club's Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev.

2001 - WHEN THE "RED MIST" DESCENDS: Keane admitted there were "no excuses" for his continuing lack of discipline after being shown a red card for the 10th time in his career.

2002 - THROWN OUT OF WORLD CUP: An exasperated Keane announces he will quit international football after the World Cup having expressed his dissatisfaction with the Republic's preparations. When clear-the-air talks with McCarthy descend into a "slanging match", the Republic boss promptly sends his best player home.

2002 - ALF-INGE HAALAND: Having suffered a serious knee injury in a clash with Haaland earlier in his career, Keane got his revenge in a Manchester derby. A crude stamp on the Norwegian's knee earned a red card and left Haaland badly injured. In his autobiography Keane admitted: "I waited until five minutes before the end, I hit him hard."

2003: INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT: 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 - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DISMISSAL: Sent off as United lose in Porto in a Champions League last-16 clash. Misses the second leg at Old Trafford as the Red Devils crash out of Europe at the hands of Jose Mourinho's eventual champions.

2005 - KEANE ANGERS SAINTS FANS: Invokes the wrath of Southampton fans by mocking their relegation plight before being ushered off the pitch after a 2-1 win at St Mary's, a result that contributed to the Saints drop from the Premiership.

2005: DENIED RECORD-MAKING OPPORTUNITY - A United victory in the FA Cup final would have granted Keane a record-equalling fifth winners' medal. As it is, Arsenal emerge triumphant on penalties in a game that United dominated.

2005: ANNOUNCES EXIT PLANS: Keane reveals he expects to leave United in summer 2006, ending a 13-year Old Trafford career. He stresses he would play for no other English club.

2005: INTERNATIONAL EXIT - AGAIN: Two days after the Republic of Ireland fail to qualify for the World Cup in Germany Keane announces he is to quit international football for a second time.

2006: RETIREMENT: Announces retirement following medical advice.

2008: EXITS SUNDERLAND: Leaves his first managerial post after crisis talks on Wearside.

2011: SACKED BY IPSWICH: Wth the club 19th in the table Keane is shown the door. His final game in charge was a 1-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest on January 3.