Keith Keane

Personal information
Full name	Keith Francis Keane[1]
Date of birth	20 November 1986 (1986-11-20) (age 23)
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
1995–2003	Luton Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–	Luton Town	140	(4)
National team‡
2004	Republic of Ireland U-19	2	(0)
2005–2007	Republic of Ireland U-21	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:30 21 November 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:55, 20 November 2009 (UTC)

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 1 Career 2 Honours 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Career

Keane made his debut for Luton 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] 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 called up to play for the Republic of Ireland under-19 side in February 2004.^[4]

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.^[5] 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. He netted the Young Player of the Year award that season for his performances, and was rewarded with a new two-year contract.^[6]

In the 2006–07 season, Keane made 19 league appearances 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.^[7] 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 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, 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.^[8]

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. 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.^[9] His displays earned Keane the Supporters' Player of the Year and Internet Player of the Season awards for the second year in a row.^[10]

[edit] Honours

Luton Town

• Football League One winner: 2004–05
• Football League Trophy winner: 2008–09

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Keith Keane career stats at Soccerbase

v • d • e Luton Town F.C. – current squad 1 Tyler · 2 Asafu-Adjaye · 3 Emanuel · 4 Keane · 5 White · 6 G. Pilkington · 7 Newton · 8 Nicholls (c) · 9 Hatch · 10 Craddock · 11 Burgess · 12 Blackett · 13 Gore · 14 Hall · 15 Howells · 16 Jarvis · 17 Charles · 18 Gnakpa · 19 Basham · 20 Gallen · 21 Reynolds · 23 Murray · 26 K. Pilkington · 27 Nwokeji · 30 Watkins · 31 Patrick · 33 Nathaniel · Manager: Money