Keane Bolts On Man U

For those of you who have your finger on the pulse of such matters, the big shocking news this morning is that Roy Keane — a soccer player so famous that we've heard of him — has left Manchester United — the team where he served as captain — after 12 years with the team. Of course, it's the middle of the season, so it's not certain whether he's retiring or just wants to sign with another team. He recently criticized his teammates — the team is in fourth place in the Premier League — and hasn't played since September.

It could very well be considered the end of Manchester United's dominant reign; Keane was the tough, winning-driven captain, all business. If you're not into soccer, think of it like Derek Jeter leaving the Yankees in July.

A loyal reader who's our official soccer expert chimes in to back us up, because we're an ugly American:

It was going to happen, but the timing's a bit of a shock and the circumstances still not fully known. Pretty much everyone thought he would leave at the end of the season when his contract expired.

Roy Keane was a hell of a player — a proper leader, the manager's lieutenant, occasionally a little zealous and over-committed — and a real character: He argued with referees and other players, including his own team; he walked out of the Irish team on the eve of the 2002 World Cup after falling out with the manager over training preparations ("You can shove it up your bollocks!" he said to him); he admitted in his autobiography that he broke an opponent's leg on purpose in a revenge tackle; he slagged off the home supporters for being too busy eating prawn sandwiches; and two weeks ago, the straw that broke the camel's back, he slagged off half of his teammates in an interview that the club had to censor.

Keane Leaves Manchester United [Reuters]