By Chris O'Brien
November 20 2005

Roy Keane has played his last game for Manchester United with the shock announcement that he has left Old Trafford. The player is now a free agent after over a decade of success with the Red Devils, and Sir Alex Ferguson is now looking for a new captain.

Roy Keane has left Manchester United by mutual consent in a move that has rocked Old Trafford.

The club confirmed on Friday that the two parties had agreed for the captain's contract to be ended with immediate affect. Keane will now become a free agent, with a host of club's almost certain to offer the midfielder a quick opportunity to get back into the game.

Though initial shock from supporters, it is the timing that is the surprise rather than the departure. Keane's contract ended next year and he made no secret of the fact that he didn't expect the deal to be renewed - comments that the club issued no response to. The Irishman then blasted fellow team-mates in an MUTV interview, never broadcast, for their performance and attitude following United's 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, sparking mammoth controversy of a rift in camp.

The 34-year-old has spent a frustrating year struggling with a series of niggling injuries. His recent form has failed to recapture the midfield dominance that will see the veteran go down as a United legend after twelve and a half years at Old Trafford. The broken foot he picked up at Anfield in September will be his last game in the famous '16' jersey. It is a sad day for fans but one we have, perhaps, been anticipating.

Strangely, Keane trained as normal with United team-mates on Friday morning and was even in contention for a return to match action when a MUFC 'XI' visited Burton Albion in a mid-week friendly. Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill made statements to the media after training which confirmed Keane's exit.

Ferguson was reflective of Keane's career, but offered no reasoning behind the bizarre timing: "Roy Keane has been a fantastic servant for Manchester United. The best midfield player in the world of his generation, he is already one of the great figures in our club's illustrious history. "Roy has been central to the success of the club in the last 12-and-a-half years and everyone at Old Trafford wishes him well in the rest of his career and beyond.

The former Nottingham Forest star confessed that he felt it was now right to leave Old Trafford: "Whilst it is a sad day for me to leave such a great club and manager I believe that the time has now come for me to move on. After so many years, I will miss everyone at the club. I send my best wishes for the future to the management, players, staff and supporters of the club."

Keane's career thus far has been surrounded by controversy. The lack of remorse for a horror tackle on Alf Inge Haaland dominated the back-pages for months, whilst the out-spoken player walked out on his country ahead of the 2002 World Cup following a high-profile spat with manager Mick McCarthy. He made a brief return to the international scene under Brian Kerr, but ended his Irish reign last month with 66 caps under his belt.

Keane will not retire and is likely to favour a move to Glasgow Celtic. It has been a lifelong ambition for the Irish international that his career would end at Parkhead, though Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers have already been linked with a move. Rovers boss Mark Hughes played alongside Keane in the 90's, whilst odds have been slashed on Keane filling Republic of Ireland's vacant managerial post.

ManUtdWeb would like to thank Roy Keane on his fantastic service and the great memories supporters will always treasure. Since joining United for a record £3.7million he has helped the club to 7 League Championships, 4 F.A Cups, an Intercontinental Cup and a European Cup scoring 51 goals in 479 appearances. Undoubtedly a great loss.