In April 2001, during a Manchester derby, Roy Keane went through Alf-Inge Haaland's knee with a knee-high tackle. It looked bad at the time. It looked worse once Keane's autobiography came out, because in it he admitted the challenge was premeditated revenge. The authorities read the book as well. After it was published he was fined £150,000 and banned for 5 matches.
The Irish central midfielder played for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Celtic between 1989 and 2006. At Old Trafford he was the captain, and for years the most dominant midfielder of his era. Many regard him as the finest captain in the club's history.
Was Keane simply hard, or something worse?
Hard men foul people. Keane set out to injure one, then described it in print as payback, and that moves him into different company. Toughness is one thing. Hurting a man on purpose and boasting about it later is another.
He had other flashpoints too:
- the tunnel confrontation with Vieira at Highbury, still the most infamous moment of that Premier League rivalry
- being sent home from the 2002 World Cup after an explosive row with Ireland manager Mick McCarthy
Keane never seemed bothered by what anybody thought of him, and he still doesn't. That is partly why he sits so high on this list.
The Haaland tackle
Tomorrow: number three.
