KEANE COULD DO A JOB FOR IRELAND

Last updated : 30 December 2003 By editor

Keane’s departure from international football was as dramatic as it appeared emphatic after his acrimonious falling-out with Mick McCarthy, and subsequently senior members of the Ireland squad, on the eve of the 2002 World Cup finals. The appointment of Brian Kerr as McCarthy’s successor raised the possibility of a comeback, before Keane bowed to medical advice and confirmed his unavailability.

The decision to quit has produced handsome rewards in terms of Keane’s club form but the player has admitted that he still hankers after a return.

“I feel I could still do a job for Ireland,” Keane said. “Then again, there are one or two players who I wouldn’t fancy playing with because of what happened before. From what I hear they are more professional. John O’Shea tells me they’re looked after, so at least something good came out of what happened.”