Keith Keane
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| Keith Keane | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Keith Francis Keane[1] | |
| Date of birth | November 20, 1986 | |
| Place of birth | Luton, England | |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | |
| Playing position | Defender, Midfielder | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Luton Town | |
| Number | 4 | |
| Youth career | ||
| Luton Town | ||
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2003– | Luton Town | 129 (4) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Keith Francis Keane (born 20 November 1986 in Luton, Bedfordshire) is an English-born Irish footballer who plays mainly as a defender for Luton Town. A versatile footballer, Keane is a former academy player who graduated from the youth ranks at Luton.
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Luton Town
Keane made his debut for Luton under manager Mike Newell at the age of 16, in the LDV Vans Trophy against Rushden & Diamonds early in the 2003-04 season.[2] Despite playing out of position at right-back, Keane played well and stayed in the side for a further 16 games that season, his league debut coming in a 0-0 draw at Wycombe Wanderers.[3] Newell predominantly played Keane at right-back as cover for Kevin Foley, but he also featured in midfield. He was soon called up to play for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 side.[4]
Keane had a solid 2004–05 season, becoming a regular squad member. Appearing at centre-back, full-back and in midfield, he made 19 appearances in all competitions. Luton went on to win League One that season with a massive 98 points, rewarding Keane with a winner's medal.
The next season started with Keane as a Championship player, and as an Ireland Under-21 international after making his debut against Cyprus, joining Foley in the side.[5] Used at right-back, left-back, in central defence and on the right-hand side of midfield during the course of the 2005–06 campaign, Keane’s ability to play in numerous positions saw him make 10 league appearances. He netted the Young Player of the Year award that season for his performances.
In the 2006–07 season, Keane made 19 league appearances as Luton were relegated to League One.
The next season, after Newell's departure, Keane was frozen out of the first team by new manager Kevin Blackwell, who preferred to play his own signing Richard Jackson. However, Keane was eventually brought back into the team to replace the woeful Jackson, and later made the position his own when Luton Town legend Mick Harford replaced Blackwell as manager in January 2008. Harford made Keane club captain, making 28 league appearances and becoming a crowd favourite, despite Luton suffering another relegation, this time to League Two. Keane won the Supporters Player of the Year award at the end of the season, as well as the Players' Player of the Year and Internet Player of the Season award.[6]
Luton were docked 30 points for financial irregularities at the beginning of the 2008–09 season, and although Keane made 40 league appearances, he could not prevent the inevitable as Luton were relegated from the Football League for the first time in 89 years. A silver lining to this cloud came as Luton beat Scunthorpe United 3-2 in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley, with Keane producing a superb performance in midfield.[7] His displays earned Keane the Supporters Player of the Year and Internet Player of the Season awards for the second year in a row.[8]
[edit] Honours
- Football League One winner: 2004–05
- Football League Trophy winner: 2008–09
[edit] References
- ^ "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. http://www.findmypast.com/post84BMDSearchStart.action?redef=0&searchType=B. Retrieved on 2009-04-30.
- ^ "Match report: Rushden 1-2 Luton". Luton Town FC. 04/11/2003. http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10372~25692,00.html. Retrieved on 29/04/2009.
- ^ "Match report: Wycombe 0-0 Luton". Luton Town FC. 14/02/2004. http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10372~23294,00.html. Retrieved on 29/04/2009.
- ^ "Irish U19 squad named". BreakingNews.ie. 14/02/2004. http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2004/02/14/story134233.asp. Retrieved on 29/04/2009.
- ^ "Under 21 - 2005/2006 Squad Profile". FAI. 20/03/2006. http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58. Retrieved on 29/04/2009.
- ^ "KEANE CLAIMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD". Luton Town FC. 06/05/2008. http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10372~1306446,00.html. Retrieved on 29/04/2009.
- ^ "How the Hatters rated". Luton Today. 05/04/2009. http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/How-the-Hatters-rated.5143261.jp. Retrieved on 29/04/2009.
- ^ "King Keane rules awards roost". Luton Today. 28/04/2009. http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/King-Keane-rules-the-awards.5214456.jp. Retrieved on 29/04/2009.
[edit] External links
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