Profile: Keane is unpredictable to the end

Roy Keane's exit from Manchester United today was in keeping with a career which has attracted headlines - both good and bad - throughout.

The club released a statement today which ended an association between the Red Devils and Keane which has lasted almost 12 and a half years.

The manner of his departure was as dramatic and unexpected as his exit from the Republic of Ireland's World Cup camp on the Pacific island of Saipan prior to the 2002 finals.

For the player who inspired his team-mates from the centre of midfield, the lasting image of Keane's international career is when he travelled back home before kicking a ball.

Keane had been inspirational as his country fought their way out of a seemingly impossible qualification group - finishing second behind Portugal and ahead of Holland - and it was the Manchester United player's chance to prove himself on the world stage.

However, following a row with manager Mick McCarthy, Keane was on his way home and his team were left without their leader.

At the heart of Keane's anger was the standard of Ireland's preparations for the tournament in the Far East, the result was - according to McCarthy's autobiography - a foul-mouthed character assassination of his international boss.

Keane's return home sparked a mixed reaction - pity that a player of such ability would miss out at the biggest tournament of his career, but also frustration his anger had cost him.

Whether Keane could have taken his country further than the second round - where they lost to Spain on penalties - will never be known, but on track record he could have made a difference.

At club level, Keane was always outspoken but his influence on the pitch was extraordinary. He led United to domestic dominance in the 1990s after joining from Nottingham Forest in 1993, their driving force in the heart of midfield who could protect his back four and set the tempo for their displays home and abroad.

The mark of his character on the pitch was the 1999 Champions League semi-final against Juventus when he received a yellow card and knew he would miss the final if United could complete an unlikely comeback.

His selfless response was to drive the team on, recovering from being two goals down to win 3-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

Despite his inspirational displays on the pitch such as the night at the Stadio delle Alpi, Keane will also be remembered for remarks about his team-mates, fans, and his challenge on Alf Inge Haaland.

"They have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don't realise what's going on out on the pitch," he said of the Old Trafford fans.

Haaland had famously taunted Keane after he had received a serious injury, which resulted in an horrific challenge when the pair met years later.

Of the challenge, Keane said: "Even in the dressing room afterwards I had no remorse.

"My attitude was, 'What goes around comes around'. He got his just rewards. My attitude is an eye for an eye."

Keane's sensational departure from Old Trafford comes hot on the heels of his involvement in a programme for MUTV which was deemed unsuitable for broadcast, so harsh was the criticism levelled by Keane at his team-mates.

His plain-speaking approach has been one of his greatest strengths but has also contributed to most of the negative attention which has come his way.

The football world will wait with interest to see which direction Keane's career takes next.