On September 27, 1997, a chain of events were put in motion that would conclude with a career-ending injury to Alf-Inge Haaland four years later. It all started when Manchester United took on fierce Yorkshire rivals Leeds. Keane, who captained the Red Devils at the time, was involved in a series of niggles with Haaland and his notorious temper got the better of him. "I was trying to trip him up rather than kick him. I knew it probably meant a booking, but f**k it..." Keane later reflected. The Irishman went to foul Haaland, but in the process of doing so caught his studs in the turf and sustained a serious knee injury. The midfielder was booked as he lay prostrate on the ground while Haaland stood over him screaming abuse. Four years on, Keane took his revenge. In 2001, during a Manchester Derby with City, the midfielder landed his studs on Haaland's right kneecap during the 1-1 draw. 'I'd waited long enough. I f****** hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***" Keane later admitted. Haaland would play just 48 more minutes of professional football following the foul, and his playing career was as good as ended by the tackle. The incident tarnished Keane's reputation and associated United with thuggish behaviour, and the fact one of their own deliberately set out to end a fellow professional's career only served to hand the Red Devils a PR nightmare.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
