|
Regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, Keane was a powerful, dominant, consistent, and highly competitive midfielder. In his prime, Keane was known for his work-rate, mobility, energy, physicality, and hard-tackling style of play, which earned him a reputation as one of the best players in the world in his position. His playing style also earned him a degree of notoriety, due to his temper, tendency to pick up cards, confront opponents, and commit rash challenges. Usually operating in either a [[Midfielder#Holding midfielder|holding]] or [[Midfielder#Box-to-box midfielder|box-to-box]] role in the [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|centre]] of the pitch, his most prominent traits were his stamina, intelligence, positional sense, tenacity, aggression, physical strength, and ball-winning abilities, although he was a complete midfielder, who possessed a wide range of skills; indeed, he was also capable of carrying the ball forward effectively after obtaining possession, and either distributing it to other players, controlling the game and dictating the tempo in midfield, starting attacking plays, or even creating chances for his teammates, courtesy of his composure on the ball, first touch, and precise, efficient passing. He could even score goals himself, due to his attacking drive, eye for goal, a powerful shot from range, and his ability to make late runs into the penalty area, in particular in his early career.
In his later career, however, he modified his playing style and became more cautious in his play, occuypyingoccupying a deeper role, in order to compensate for his physical decline and loss of mobility following his hip operation, and attempted to avoid receiving so many bookings as a result of outbursts or reckless challenges. An influential presence on the pitch, in addition to his playing ability, Keane also stood out for his leadership and determination throughout his career, as well as his strong character. However, he also struggled out with injuries throughout his career.{{#tag:ref|See<ref name="FIFA 100"/><ref name="autobiography" /><ref name="manutdzone" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-greats-roy-keane-7376344|title=United greats: Roy Keane|publisher=Manchester Evening News|author1=James Robson|date=5 July 2014|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/news/a16346/gary-neville-reveals-the-truth-behind-roy-keane-and-patrick-vieiras-infamous-tunnel-bust-up/|title=Gary Neville Reveals The Truth Behind Roy Keane And Patrick Vieira's Infamous Tunnel Bust-Up|publisher=Esquire|date=27 July 2017|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/lee-cattermole-talentspotter|title=Lee Cattermole: Talentspotter|publisher=FourFourTwo|date=1 June 2006|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/2231755/is-vieira-the-worlds-best-defensive-midfielder|title=IS VIEIRA THE WORLD'S BEST DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER?|publisher=Sky Sports|author1=Matt Pomroy|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/United-Uncovered/News/2013/Mar/Issue-8/video-paul-scholes-five-favourite-central-midfielders.aspx|title=Scholes: My top five midfielders|website=ManUtd.com|date=22 March 2013|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197190.stm|title=Positions guide: Central midfield|date=September 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/apr/22/where-have-box-to-box-midfielders-gone|title=The Question: is the box-to-box midfielder dead?|work=The Guardian|author1=Jonathan Wilson|date=22 April 2009|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Premier League 100">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-100-in-praise-roy-keane-manchester-united-news-countdown-a8843901.html |title=Premier League 100: In praise of Roy Keane, the physical embodiment of Manchester United's winning attitude |newspaper=The Independent |last1=Delaney |first1=Miguel |date=30 March 2019 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name="fearless force"/><ref name="solitude">{{cite news |url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/7x5nme/dude-wears-pants-for-the-first-time-in-18-years-thanks-to-football-win |title=The Sad, Furious Solitude of Anger's Roy Keane |work=Vice |last1=Rickett |first1=Oscar |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/roy-keane-and-alex-ferguson-the-grudge-that-keeps-on-giving-1.2362156 |title=Roy Keane and Alex Ferguson: the grudge that keeps on giving |newspaper=The Irish Times |last1=Malone |first1=Emmet |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/richard-keys-roy-keane-179275 |title=Richard Keys embarrassed himself with astonishing Roy Keane comments |publisher=Sports Joe |last1=Redmond |first1=Robert |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name="career">{{cite web |url=https://eireplusalba2.wordpress.com/football-soccer/the-career-of-roy-keane/the-career-of-roy-keane-republic-of-ireland/ |title=The Career of Roy Keane |date=July 2016 |publisher=eireplusalba2.wordpress.com |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://it.sports.yahoo.com/foto/la-classifica-dei-10-giocatori-180955080/p-il-centrocampista-irlandese-letteralmente-photo-181304723.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADxI7YSU0a5zicY8F5WihjFtc40ZvGmcJyR0Rhg0L9JlzKMNK92c61FdB7ZdnbIwql9Yuship1u2YksS8rrcWxgW8BmerUULEtetigU0fcw5ULEYBFTxasvBKfL6A0-So35NeCjDoZWQ0xXOX9_zDp4_DfURFNyJYtqeMVNCV0qL |title=La classifica dei 10 giocatori più duri e cattivi della storia del calcio |publisher=Yahoo.com |language=it |date=25 August 2018 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/captain-keane-clinches-victory |title=Captain Keane clinches victory |publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Keane makes strong case for the defence">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/feb/26/newsstory.sport4 |title=Keane makes strong case for the defence |work=The Guardian |last1=Taylor |first1=Daniel |date=26 February 2003 |access-date=27 May 2020 }}</ref>|name="style of play"|group="nb"}} Despite his relatively small frame and short stature, he was also good in the air and an accurate header of the ball.<ref name="fearless force">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/club/name/360/blog/post/1972197/headline |title=Roy Keane: The fearless force |work=ESPN FC |last1=Brewin |first1=John |date=25 August 2014 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name="solitude"/><ref name="career"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/roy-keane-man-united-ireland-162781 |title=One of Roy Keane's best qualities as a player is criminally overlooked and underrated |website=sportsjoe.ie |last1=Redmond |first1=Robert |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/mar/06/roy-keane-diego-maradona |title=The Joy of Six: great individual performances |work=The Guardian |last1=Murray |first1=Scott |last2=Smyth |first2=Rob |date=6 March 2009 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref> Although he was usually fielded as a [[defensive midfielder]], Keane was also deployed as a defender on occasion, functioning as a [[centre-back]] or as a [[Sweeper (association football)|sweeper]].<ref name="Keane makes strong case for the defence"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the42.ie/its-a-mark-of-the-man-that-he-was-willing-to-show-us-how-he-felt-mick-mccarthy-and-a-remarkably-raw-documentary-4447488-Jan2019/ |title='It's a mark of the man that he was willing to show us how he felt': Mick McCarthy and a remarkably raw documentary |website=The42.ie |last1=O'Callaghan |first1=Eoin |date=20 January 2019 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name="WORLD'S BEST DM">{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2231755/is-vieira-the-world-s-best-defensive-midfielder |title=IS VIEIRA THE WORLD'S BEST DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER? |work=Sky Sports |access-date=16 April 2024 }}</ref>
Regarding his work-rate, mentality, and influence, his former teammate Gary Neville said of him: "His greatest gift was to create a standard of performance which demanded the very best from the team. You would look at him busting a gut and feel that you'd be betraying him if you didn't give everything yourself."<ref name="Premier League 100"/> Steve McClaren, who served as Alex Ferguson's assistant manager during Keane's time at Manchester United, between 1998 and 2001, instead said of the midfielder's competitive spirit: "He mirrors the manager on the pitch. They are winners."<ref name="fearless force"/> Regarding Keane's complex character, despite his intensity on the pitch, Sean O'Hagan of ''The Guardian'' wrote in 2002 that he is "...a committed and confident warrior on the field, a shy, socially awkward, and often lonely introvert off it."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/sep/01/football.newsstory2 |title=Inside the minds of Roy Keane |work=The Guardian |last1=O'Hagan |first1=Sean |date=1 September 2002 |access-date=15 January 2020 }}</ref>
|
