Michael Keane (footballer, born 1982)

Michael Thomas Joseph Keane (born 29 December 1982) is an Irish former professional footballer who played on the left side of midfield. He played as a professional from 2000 until 2008, turning out for Preston North End, Grimsby Town, Hull City and Rotherham United before ending his career when he was released by League of Ireland Premier Division team St Patrick's Athletic in 2008.

Michael Keane
Personal information
Full name Michael Thomas Joseph Keane
Date of birth (1982-12-29) 29 December 1982
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1999–2000 Preston North End
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Preston North End 56 (3)
2003 → Grimsby Town (loan) 7 (2)
2004–2005 Hull City 20 (3)
2005 → Rotherham United (loan) 3 (0)
2005–2007 Rotherham United 57 (0)
2007–2008 St Patricks Athletic
Total 143 (8)
National team
2002 Republic of Ireland U20 3 (0)
2001–2002 Republic of Ireland U21 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Preston North End

Keane was born in Dublin. He started his career in 2000 at Preston North End, he was part of a decent youth team under David Moyes that helped strengthen the club's position in the First Division. Keane came to prominence in the 2001–02 season where he played alongside Jon Macken. After twice breaking his foot, and only making one start during the 2002–03 season, he was made available for loan and joined fellow First Division side Grimsby Town on the transfer deadline day in March 2003.[1][2][3] He joined The Mariners with the hope of saving them from relegation. Despite playing well, and scoring two goals, Grimsby were relegated.[4] Despite interest from Grimsby in signing Keane on a permanent basis,[5] he returned to Deepdale following the end of the season and returned to first team action for Preston.

Hull City

After four years and over 50 games at Preston, Keane signed for Hull City for £500,000 in June 2004, saying "It's dropping down a division, but I look at it as a stepping stone. I think this is a club that's definitely on the up",[6] and was part of an impressive squad that was put together at the Yorkshire club. However, he started only twelve games during the 2004–05 season and with no future at the club, he was loaned out to Rotherham United for one month in March 2005.[7][8]

Rotherham United

After impressing during his loan spell at Millmoor, Keane signed for the club permanently on a two-year contract.[9] He featured extensively for Rotherham during the 2005–06 season until an operation on a hernia condition in November 2005 ruled him out for several weeks.[10][11] Later in the season, after returning from the operation, he was sent off against Tranmere in April 2006, leading to a five-match ban that ruled him out for the rest of the season.[12] He was later charged with persistent misconduct by the Football Association having been sent off three times during the season.[12] He was released at the end of the 2006–07 season following the relegation of Rotherham from League One.[13]

St Patricks Athletic

Following his release he signed with St Patricks Athletic where he remained for one season and played in the UEFA Cup.[14] In the 2008 season he made only two substitute league appearances and in July 2008, he was unlawfully sacked and discriminated against by the club who called him overweight.[15] The following month it was ruled the club were wrong to sack him.[16] In December 2008, Dundalk offered him a contract,[17] but Keane opted to do his uefa coaching badges where he received UEFA A and B Badges.

Coaching career

Keane moved into coaching for O'Deveney Dunard in the Athletic Union League before replacing Anto Brennan as manager when Brennan moved on. He later took over at Stella Maris Under 15s before leaving a few months later.

Keane then had a stint with Brendanville, followed by his appointment at Dingle United FC as their AUL Premier B manager. He left in April 2015. In May 2015 he took over at Hardwicke FC as 1st Team Manager. He led them to promotion to the top flight of amateur football for the first time in the club's history. Keane decided to part ways the following season leaving his assistant in charge. It was believed to be for personal reasons.

References
  1. O'Rourke, Peter (25 November 2002). "Keane suffers new injury blow". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  2. "New blow for Keane". BBC Sport. 21 November 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  3. "Mariners capture Keane". BBC Sport. 23 March 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  4. "Grimsby 0–1 Walsall". BBC Sport. 21 April 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2010. Brazilian striker Junior's goal condemned Grimsby to relegation ... This was a must-win match for the home side but their 12th home defeat of the campaign, coupled with Stoke's victory at Coventry, sealed their fate.
  5. "Groves eyes duo". BBC Sport. 26 May 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2010. Grimsby player-boss Paul Groves is looking to sign Preston's Michael Keane and Portsmouth's Richard Hughes to Blundell Park on a permanent basis. Both players spent the final weeks of last season on loan with the Mariners, and have impressed Groves despite being unable to stop the side's relegation to Division Two.
  6. "Keane makes move to Hull". BBC Sport. 2 June 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  7. "Hull boss expects Keane to leave". BBC Sport. 10 March 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  8. "Keane joins Millers in loan move". BBC Sport. 11 March 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  9. "Millers seal swoop for Hull star". BBC Sport. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  10. Adams, Tom (11 November 2005). "Millers handed Keane blow". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  11. "Millers midfielder facing lay-off". BBC Sport. 11 November 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  12. "Keane hit by misconduct charge". BBC Sport. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  13. Wren, Michael (11 May 2007). "Rollercoaster season ends on a down". South Yorkshire Times. Retrieved 20 February 2010. Robins has started the summer clear-out at Millmoor with Michael Keane, Theo Streete and David Worrell being told that they will not be offered new deals.
  14. McDonnell, Daniel (19 July 2007). "Unfazed Keane in mood to make mark for St Pat's". Independent.ie. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  15. McDonnell, Daniel (12 July 2008). "Sacked for being too fat". Independent.ie. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  16. McDonnell, Daniel (2 August 2008). "Saints the sinners in Keane sacking". Independent.ie. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  17. McDonnell, Daniel (18 December 2008). "Keane poised for comeback with Lilywhites". Independent.ie. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
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