He may be one of the clubs greatest servants of the Premier League era, having smashed home 123 goals for the club during a six and a half year spell, but the Irishman wasnt infallible. Some sections of the White Hart Lane contingent still havent forgiven him for walking out on the club for Liverpool in the summer of 2008, and there were question marks raised over his commitment when he returned, particularly when he was heavily rebuked and immediately sent out on loan to Celtic for organising an unauthorised Christmas party. However, there was one moment that occurred during his first spell at the club which demonstrated a degree of immaturity and petulance that one wouldnt have grown accustomed to noticing in the Irish record goal-scorer. When it became clear that Keane wouldnt feature in a Premier League clash with Birmingham City in April 2005, he did not take the decision kindly and stormed down the tunnel after Spurs made their first substitution, meaning that he wouldnt take to the field of play. This act of frustration cost him £10,000 and fuelled speculation that he could be leaving the club in the summer after he was forced to train with the youth team for a spell, but Jol was quick to refute that he could leave.
''Have you seen our fines list? We have a code of conduct for everything, even for things like coming in late. If you dont do that, there will be anarchy at the club. It is a normal thing. He was upset because he didnt come on. I would normally put him on, especially at home, but this situation was different. We have had a chat. Nothing is more important than the club and he knows that. - Martin Jol, April 2005.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
