Keith Keane

Keith Keane

Keane playing for Luton Town in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Keith Francis Keane[1]
Date of birth	20 November 1986[1]
Place of birth	Luton, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Playing position	Defender / Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Stevenage (on loan from Cambridge United)
Number	4
Youth career
1995–2003	Luton Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2003–2012	Luton Town	234	(7)
2012–2015	Preston North End	64	(2)
2014	→ Crawley Town (loan)	12	(0)
2015	→ Stevenage (loan)	7	(0)
2015–	Cambridge United	4	(0)
2016–	→ Stevenage (loan)	6	(1)
National team
2004	Republic of Ireland U19	2	(0)
2005–2007	Republic of Ireland U21	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:45, 25 March 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Keith Francis Keane (born 20 November 1986) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League Two club Stevenage, on loan from League Two club Cambridge United. He is a former academy player who graduated from the youth ranks at Luton Town. A versatile footballer, Keane played in every position for Luton other than in goal or as a striker, and played for the club across four different divisions.

Career

Luton Town

Born in Luton, Bedfordshire,^[1] Keane made his debut for Luton Town under manager Mike Newell at the age of 16, in a Football League Trophy victory against Rushden & Diamonds early in the 2003–04 season.^[2] 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 in February 2004.^[3] Newell predominantly played Keane at right-back as cover for Kevin Foley, but he also featured in midfield. He was called up to play for the Republic of Ireland under-19 side in February 2004.^[4] Keane scored his first goal for Luton on 17 April 2004 as a last minute winner in a 3–2 victory over Bristol City.^[5]

During the 2004–05 season, Keane became 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 a Republic of Ireland under-21 international after making his debut against Cyprus, joining Foley in the side.^[6] Utilised at right-back, left-back, in central defence and in right midfield during the course of the 2005–06 campaign, Keane's ability to play in numerous positions saw him make 12 appearances, scoring once. He was awarded the Young Player of the Year award that season for his performances, and was rewarded with a new two-year contract.^[7]

In the 2006–07 season, Keane made 19 league appearances, scoring one goal, as Luton were relegated to League One. He was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 team for their games against Sweden and England in November 2007.^[8]

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 new signing Richard Jackson. However, Keane was eventually brought back into the team to replace Jackson, and later made the position his own when Luton Town fan favourite Mick Harford replaced Blackwell as manager in January 2008. Harford made Keane club captain, but the price of administration condemned Luton to 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.^[9]

Luton were docked 30 points for financial irregularities at the beginning of the 2008–09 season, and although Keane made 40 league appearances (primarily in midfield), he could not prevent the inevitable as Luton were relegated from The Football League for the first time in 89 years. Some solace could be found as Luton beat Scunthorpe United 3–2 in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley, with Keane producing a superb performance in midfield.^[10] His displays earned Keane the Supporters' Player of the Year and Internet Player of the Season awards for the second year in a row.^[11]

Keane playing for Luton Town in 2011

On 15 January 2010, Keane was placed on the transfer list at Luton. His refusal to sign a new contract, which would expire in June 2010 and effectively mean he would leave the club on a free transfer, was cited as the reason.^[12] However, the January transfer window closed with no bids for the player received. Then-Luton manager Richard Money stated the club was in negotiations with Keane over a new contract regardless of his transfer status, calling him a "talisman" to Luton.^[13] On 9 February 2010, Keane scored direct from a corner kick in the last minute of the game, his first goal in over two years, to earn Luton a dramatic 2–1 win against then-league leaders Oxford United. He was subsequently shown a red card for a second bookable offence after celebrating the goal with the Luton fans.^[14] This goal later won Luton Town's Goal of the Season award as voted for by fans.^[15]

Keane dismissed any speculation as to his Luton future by signing a new two-year contract with the club on 9 June 2010.^[16] Keane played the full 120 minutes of the Conference play-off final against AFC Wimbledon in May 2011; a game that saw Luton miss out on a return to the Football League by losing the penalty shoot-out.^[17]

League One side Stevenage, then managed by Graham Westley, made two bids for Keane in August 2011, though both were rejected.^[18] Defensive injuries meant Keane was moved back into defence at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, with two performances described by manager Gary Brabin as "outstanding".^[19] Keane went on to make 42 appearances on what turned out to be his final season at Kenilworth Road.

Preston North End

On 7 June 2012, it was announced that he was to join League One side Preston North End, then managed by Graham Westley, once his Luton contract had finished.^[20]

Keane scored his first goal for the club on Good Friday 2013 in a 1–1 home draw with Portsmouth. He intercepted an attempted clearance before volleying home from the edge of the 18-yard box. On 17 December 2013, Keane extended his contract with Preston for a further twelve months, thus keeping him at the club until the summer of 2015.^[21]

In September 2014, Keane was loaned to League One side Crawley Town.^[22] He made a successful debut on 13 September when Crawley Town beat Fleetwood Town being named the Man of the match.^[23]

In March 2015, Keane was loaned to League Two side Stevenage on a one month loan deal.^[24]

Cambridge United

On 27 May 2015, it was announced that he had joined League Two side Cambridge United, linking up with former Luton manager Richard Money, on a two-year deal.^[25]

Keane was restricted to four league appearances due to injury. In January 2016, he rejoined Stevenage on loan until 20 February 2016.^[26] On 25 March 2016, Keane rejoined Stevenage once more on another one month loan deal.^[27]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 March 2016.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Luton Town	2003–04[28]	Second Division	15	1	1	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	17	1
	2004–05[29]	League One	17	0	1	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	19	0
	2005–06[30]	Championship	10	1	0	0	2	0	—		12	1
	2006–07[31]	Championship	19	1	1	0	3	0	—		23	1
	2007–08[32]	League One	28	1	3	0	2	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	34	1
	2008–09[33]	League Two	40	0	2	0	2	0	5[lower-alpha 1]	0	49	0
	2009–10[34]	Conference Premier	33	2	3	0	—		3[lower-alpha 2]	0	39	2
	2010–11[35]	Conference Premier	39	0	5	0	—		6[lower-alpha 3]	0	50	0
	2011–12[36]	Conference Premier	33	1	2	0	—		7[lower-alpha 4]	1	42	2
	Total		234	7	18	0	9	0	24	1	285	8
Preston North End	2012–13[37]	League One	26	1	1	0	2	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	31	1
	2013–14[38]	League One	38	1	5	0	2	0	1[lower-alpha 5]	0	46	1
	2014–15[39]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		64	2	6	0	4	0	3	0	77	2
Crawley Town (loan)	2014–15[39]	League One	12	0	1	0	—		2[lower-alpha 1]	0	15	0
Stevenage (loan)	2014–15[39]	League Two	7	0	—		—		—		7	0
Cambridge United	2015–16[40]	League Two	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	5	0
Stevenage (loan)	2015–16[40]	League Two	6	1	—		—		—		6	1
Career total			327	10	25	0	14	0	29	1	395	11

1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
2. One appearance in FA Trophy, two in Conference Premier play-offs
3. Three appearances in FA Trophy, three in Conference Premier play-offs
4. Four appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, three appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
5. Appearance in League One play-offs

Honours

Luton Town

• Football League One: 2004–05^[1]
• Football League Trophy: 2008–09^[1]

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 230. ISBN 9-781845-964740.
2. "Match report: Rushden 1–2 Luton". Luton Town F.C. 4 November 2003. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
3. "Match report: Wycombe 0–0 Luton". Luton Town F.C. 14 February 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
4. "Irish U-19 squad named". BreakingNews.ie. 14 February 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
5. "Luton Town 3–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
6. "Cyprus U21 1–1 Rep of Ireland U21". BBC Sport. 7 October 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
7. "Luton offer fresh deals to pair". BBC Sport. 7 April 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
8. "Givens announces squads for U21 double-header". Football Association of Ireland. 30 September 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
9. "Keane claims Player of the year award". Luton Town F.C. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
10. Swann, Alec (5 April 2009). "How the Hatters rated". Luton Today. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
11. Wood, Mark (28 April 2009). "King Keane rules awards roost". Luton Today. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
12. "Money mindful of Salisbury threat". Luton Town F.C. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
13. "Hatters hierarchy Keane to tie Keith to fresh contract". Luton Today. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
14. "Luton Town 2–1 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
15. "Awards a plenty for Pilks". Luton Town F.C. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
16. "Keane pens two-year deal". Luton Town F.C. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
17. Marshall, Steve (21 May 2011). "AFC Wimbledon 0–0 Luton Town (4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
18. "Stevenage bid for Keane rejected". Stevenage F.C. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
19. "Thoroughly Deserved". Luton Town F.C. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
20. "Preston North End sign Luton Town's Keith Keane". BBC Sport. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
21. "PNE Extend Nine Players’ Contracts". Preston North End Official Website. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
22. "Crawley Town sign Keith Keane and Josh Wright on loan". BBC Sport. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
23. "Preston North End's Keith is Keane to prolong Crawley Town stay". Crawley News. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
24. "Stevenage sign Preston's Keith Keane on loan". BBC Sport. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
25. "Cambridge United: Midfielder Keith Keane joins from Preston". BBC Sport. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
26. "Keith Keane joins Stevenage on loan from Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
27. "Stevenage sign Charlie Adams and Cambridge United's Keith Keane". BBC Sport. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
28. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
29. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
30. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
31. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
32. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
33. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
34. Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2010). Non-League Club Directory 2011. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 118–119. ISBN 9-781869-833688.
35. Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2011). Non-League Club Directory 2012. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 116–117. ISBN 9-781869-833701.
    Marshall, Steve (21 May 2011). "AFC Wimbledon 0–0 Luton Town (4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
36. Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2012). Non-League Club Directory 2013. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 104–105. ISBN 9-781869-833770.
37. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
38. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
39. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
40. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.

External links

• Keith Keane career statistics at Soccerbase