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Keane: The Autobiography
March 9, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this enthralling, frank and hilarious book. Readers not familiar with British colloquialisms and English football culture may find this story difficult to follow. But readers interested in what constitutes the heart of a champion will find Keane The Autobiography both rewarding and indispensable.
Here is the story of a poor Irish footballer from Cork who was too small, too slow and so utterly lacking in fundamental skills that by age 18 he was relegated to a ‘has been’ in organized soccer. With no prospects for club play (forget junior nationals or professional football), Roy Keane’s career appeared to everyone to be finished. To everyone, that is, other than Roy Keane.
This autobiography tells the story of how Roy Keane relentlessly drove himself towards a simple goal (to be a professional soccer player) and how his uncompromising single mindedness propelled him to the pinnacle of his objective -- captaincy of Manchester United, the 1999 treble season capturing the FA Cup, Premiership and Champions League and countless other team and individual trophies.
It’s not an entirely happy story. This is a brutally honest book about professional soccer, international tournaments and Roy Keane. The beautiful game is often a very ugly business. And the iron will that makes Keane the captain of Manchester United and Ireland’s national team frequently leads to trouble. Trouble that often borders on self-destruction. To his credit, Keane is honest with himself and the reader throughout.
Roy Keane is honest about the nature of most soccer players. He’s frank about the nature of the news media, team managers and fans. He’s explicit about what it takes to win. And, most stirringly, Roy Keane is honest about the price one pays for not compromising on the things one believes in.
The edition I read (Penguin 2003 paperback) was revised from the original hardback (as a result of FA sanctions) and does not include Keane’s final seasons with Manchester United, his swan song with Celtic FC or his tenure as manager of Sunderland AFC (where he willed the Black Cats from middling Champions Leaguers to promotion to the Premier League). So, personally, I am hoping a subsequent edition (or second volume) will cover these episodes in Keane’s soccer career.
Nevertheless, Roy Keane is a remarkable hero. And his autobiography was a very good read.
Here is the story of a poor Irish footballer from Cork who was too small, too slow and so utterly lacking in fundamental skills that by age 18 he was relegated to a ‘has been’ in organized soccer. With no prospects for club play (forget junior nationals or professional football), Roy Keane’s career appeared to everyone to be finished. To everyone, that is, other than Roy Keane.
This autobiography tells the story of how Roy Keane relentlessly drove himself towards a simple goal (to be a professional soccer player) and how his uncompromising single mindedness propelled him to the pinnacle of his objective -- captaincy of Manchester United, the 1999 treble season capturing the FA Cup, Premiership and Champions League and countless other team and individual trophies.
It’s not an entirely happy story. This is a brutally honest book about professional soccer, international tournaments and Roy Keane. The beautiful game is often a very ugly business. And the iron will that makes Keane the captain of Manchester United and Ireland’s national team frequently leads to trouble. Trouble that often borders on self-destruction. To his credit, Keane is honest with himself and the reader throughout.
Roy Keane is honest about the nature of most soccer players. He’s frank about the nature of the news media, team managers and fans. He’s explicit about what it takes to win. And, most stirringly, Roy Keane is honest about the price one pays for not compromising on the things one believes in.
The edition I read (Penguin 2003 paperback) was revised from the original hardback (as a result of FA sanctions) and does not include Keane’s final seasons with Manchester United, his swan song with Celtic FC or his tenure as manager of Sunderland AFC (where he willed the Black Cats from middling Champions Leaguers to promotion to the Premier League). So, personally, I am hoping a subsequent edition (or second volume) will cover these episodes in Keane’s soccer career.
Nevertheless, Roy Keane is a remarkable hero. And his autobiography was a very good read.