Keith Keane

Keith Keane (born 20 November, 1986 in Luton, Bedfordshire) is an England-born Republic of Ireland Association football who plays as a Defender (association football) for Luton Town F.C..

Career

Originally wearing the number 21 shirt, the versatile young defender is a former academy player who graduated from the Youth Ranks at Luton. In the 2007–08 season he was made captain by Mick Harford.

"Keano" was originally brought into the team by ex-Luton manager Mike Newell (footballer), who expected big things from him. Newell generally played him off the bench, or as cover for Kevin Foley, whom Keane had played alongside since childhood.

Keane was a key player for Luton's youth team, and displayed his versatility by playing in virtually all outfield positions in his time there. At youth level he usually played at right midfield, bursting forward to score and create goals for the team, in a role very unlike what he is known for today. While still at school, he was picked for the Republic of Ireland Under-17 side.

Keane made his debut for Luton while he was still only 16, in the LDV Vans Trophy Second Round game against Rushden & Diamonds early on in the 2003-04 in English football. Despite playing out of position at right back, Keane played well and stayed in the side for 15 league games that season, his league debut coming in a 0-0 draw at Wycombe Wanderers F.C. in February.

Newell predominantly kept him at right back, but he also featured on the right side of the Luton midfield. Keane was soon called up to play for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 side.

He had a good 2004-05 in English football, becoming a regular squad member, as well as continuing his development in the youth and reserve sides. Appearing at centre-back, full back and in midfield, Keane gave some good performances to show why Newell had believed in him so much.

His first senior appearance that season came in August, when he replaced the injured Kevin Foley at right back in the game against Torquay United F.C., which Luton went on to win 1–0. Covering in the position for two further games, Keane performed well before Foley's return ended his run in the first team.

Making 19 appearances in all competitions that year, Keane was rewarded with a Championship medal in only his second year as a professional, as Luton Town won League One with a massive 98 points. As well as success at senior level, Keane played a big part in helping the reserve side win the Pontins Holiday Combination Cup and South East Pontins Holiday Combination League Championship.

The next season started with Keane as a Championship footballer and an Under-21 international after making his debut against Cyprus, joining Foley in the side.

At right-back, left-back, in central defence and on the right-hand side of midfield during the course of the 2005-06 in English football, Keane’s ability to play in numerous positions was valuable to Luton as he made 10 league appearances that season. He scored his first senior goal in the home defeat to Hull City F.C. in early February 2006. The deft header into the far corner of the net showed the young lad's ability. Keane netted the Young Player of the Year award that season, following some excellent performances, however many still said he was too short and stocky, too slow, and not quick enough on the ball.

The next season, Keane was still mainly a squad player, but he made 19 league appearances that year. He scored his only goal that season at West Bromwich Albion in early January, and it was undeniably the best of his career so far. Bursting forward from his position in defence, Keane laid the ball off to a teammate on the right flank, and running forward collected the return in his stride. Then, advancing on the West Brom defence, he passed forward to Steve Robinson (Northern Irish footballer), who gave it back into his path for Keane to slot home from the edge of the area. At the end of the season, the goal was crowned the club's Goal of the Year.

The next season, after Newell's departure, Keane was 'frozen out' for a long period by the new manager, Kevin Blackwell, who preferred his new signing Richard Jackson (footballer born 1980) to the young Irishman. However, he was eventually brought back into the team to replace the woeful Jackson, and has now made a position in the Luton defence his own.

Keane soon won around his earlier critics, with some rock solid performances at the centre of the Luton Town defence. His crunching tackles are now often followed by chants of 'There's only one Keano' from the Kenilworth Road faithful, to whom he has now become a crowd favourite.

He scored his first goal of the 2007-08 in English football in the away loss at Leyton Orient in January, tucking away a rebound from ten yards after Orient keeper Stuart Nelson made a mess of a Darren Currie corner from the left.

Keane is yet to win his first cap for Republic of Ireland national football team, but is a regular for the Under-21 side.