Roy Keane - Portrait of a Legend

On and off the pitch Roy Keane has a huge presence - outspoken, determined, talented, respected - and wherever he goes he's always creating fireworks. His career has seen more than its fair share of thrills and spills, with ferocious tackles, inspired leadership, bustups and brilliant goals just everyday occurrences in Roy's world. From the early days of his growing reputation at Nottingham Forest, to his enduring briliance as the midfield engine of the recordbreaking Machester United side under Sir Alex Ferguson, he's kept the crowd's and critics' attention as peraps the most dominated force in Bristish football. Throughout his fantastic career, his trademark aggression and determination on the pitch have meant that he can turn a game around in seconds. It is these same qualities, however, that have often led to him hitting the headlines. Keane has always courted controversy - his robust attitude onand off the pitch have kept him in the spotlight for much of his life in football, but as this book shows, he is also an honourable man dedicated to doing the right thing by himslef and others. For his beloved Ireland, too, his presence was at turns talismanic and troubled. His dramatic exit from the World Cup 2002 found him in the glare of publicity once more, sen thome befor eIrleand had even finished training. Keane's disputes with the Irleand manager forced him to miss the chance to captain his country in football's greatest tournament. Despite marred by a long-standing hip injury, a spell at Scottish champions Celtic in the 2005-6 season confirmed his desire to remain involved in the top flight of football. But for Keane, new challenges are on the horison. Now manager of the resurgent Sunderland AFC, he's determined as never before to make a fresh mark on the game. Famed and admired for taking no prisoners on th efootball pitch, he's now set to dominate his sport at a whole new level. This fully up-to-date book reveals all about both man and football player. It gives the inside story on th eWorld Cup 2002 debacle, his glittering career from humble beginnings in Ireland to the unrivalled glory of captaining Manchester United, his revelations about the infamous tackle on Alf Inge Haaland and his subsequent injuries, his season at Celtic and his reuniting with fellow Ireland star Niall Quinn at Sunderland, plus the inside stories on his eventful life off the pitch. By speaking to those close to Roy, as well as members of the public who have encountered him in their everyday lives, bestselling authors Stafford Hildred and Tim Ewbank have gained amazing insights into the man in full.

Stafford Hildred is a former sports reporter who has become one of Britain's best-known TV critics and authors. Tim Ewbank first began reporting football for The Kentish Observer in Canterbury. Together Stafford and Tim have collborated on the international bestseller There's Only One David Beckham, as well as biographies of David Jason, Rod Stewart and John Thaw.