Biography
Attacking midfielder and occasional left back Keane signed for City in June 2004 for a £500,000 fee, to add flair to City’s return to League One. He began promisingly, scoring on his debut in a League Cup tie against Wrexham and adding a second goal in two matches when he netted a late winner at Barnsley four days later. Over the coming weeks he was in and out of the first eleven, his clear love for the game sometimes getting the better of him. He also had a clear love for the club, his goal celebrations were accompanied by badge-kissing and name-on-shoulders-pointing. none more so than when he netted an early penalty in December 2004 at Hillsborough, as a Nicky Barmby inspired Tigers side swatted aside Sheffield Wednesday in front of an estimated 8,000 away fans. However Keane’s stock fell rapidly with manager Peter Taylor after a red card in a Reserves match and in March 2005 he was loaned to Championship strugglers Rotherham United where he made 10 appearances as the Millers slipped to relegation. Michael switched to Rotherham permanently in July 2005.
Although born in Dublin, Michael Thomas Joseph Keane came through the junior ranks at League Division 1 side Preston North End. He made his Lilywhites’ debut in May 2001 against local rivals Blackburn Rovers and scored his first senior goal in August 2001 against Wimbledon. Michael became a regular first team starter in January 2002 and started the 2002/03 season in the first team squad before missing six months of football after breaking his foot. In April 2003 he joined League Division 1 rivals Grimsby Town on loan as part of his rehabilitation, scoring two goals in 7 appearances. That form encouraged Preston boss Craig Brown to turn once again to Keane in the 2003/04 season and he remained a first team squad member for the whole season. When he left the club in June 2004 he had scored three goals in 65 senior appearances for Preston North End.
On leaving the Tigers Keane joined Rotherham United in July 2005 and had two seasons in the Millers’ first eleven as they struggled in the lower reaches of League One. At the end of the 2006/07 season Rotherham were relegated to League Two and Keane left the club having scored once in 66 appearances – his final game in English football came April 2007 against Cheltenham Town.
In July 2007 Keane returned to Dublin and signed for League of Ireland top flight side St Patricks Athletic. He began his first season at St Pats as a first team squad member but managed only six appearances, including two against Danish side Odense BK in the UEFA Cup, before falling out of favour. By the summer of 2008 Keane had the ignominy of having his contract terminated by the Dublin side because was deemed not fit enough, although he eventually received financial redress for that accusation. His playing career was over at 26 and by the end of 2008 Keane was studying for his coaching badges. For the next seven years he coached and managed several Irish minor league sides, culminating in a spell as manager of Hardwicke FC that began with a League title in 2016 but ended a year later. He then worked as a scout in Ireland for a football academy based in Mallorca, Spain, leaving that role in 2020 to write a book about his rather humdrum career.
Keane won five caps for Ireland Under-21, making his debut in October 2001 against Cyprus and winning his fifth cap in September 2002 against Russia. He was chosen for the Under-21 twice in 2003 but remained on the bench for both matches. Keane also played for the Ireland Under-20 side in 2001.
Details
Nationality: Ireland
Date/Place of Birth: 29 December 1982, Dublin
Hull City First Game: 24 August 2004, Wrexham H (League Cup 1st Round), 21 years, 239 days old
Hull City Final Game: 22 January 2005, Doncaster Rovers A (League One), 22 years, 24 days old
Clubs
Preston North End (1998-2004), Grimsby Town (2003, loan), Hull City (2004-2005), Rotherham United (2005, loan), Rotherham United (2005-2007), St Patricks Athletic (2007-2008)
Hull City Record
Career: 25 apps, 5 goals
Michael Keane| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004/05 | 12 (8) | 3 | 3 (0) | 1 | 1 (0) | 1 | – | – | 1 (0) | 0 |