Has there ever been a more competitive, frightening, inspirational player in the history of the Premier League than Keane? If so, I certainly haven't seen him. Signed by Sir Alex Ferguson from Nottingham Forest in 1993, Keane was one of the most exciting midfielders around. He was just 21 at the time, and a had a huge future ahead of him. Injury to United legend Bryan Robson allowed Keane an early run in the side, and he barely lost his place during the next 12 years. His performances were inspirational, whether it be his tough tackling, box-to-box style or underrated creativity, and he simply expected every one of his teammates to put in exactly the same level of dedication as he did. He won the Premier League in his debut season at Old Trafford. The former Republic of Ireland skipper was made United captain in 1997, following Steve Bruce's exit, and he won five league titles in six seasons between 1995/96 and 2000/2001. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year on five occasions, and was crowned PFA Player of the Year in 2000. Keane was always a ticking time-bomb at Old Trafford, constantly questioning his teammates and having numerous disciplinary issues, and his relationship with Ferguson eventually turned sour. He was sold to Celtic in 2005, but the incredible career he forged at United makes him arguably the most influential player in the history of the club.
