1971: Born Cork, August 10.

1987: Joins semi-professional League of Ireland club Cobh Ramblers after building reputation with Cork junior club Rockmount.

1990: Signed by Brian Clough for Nottingham Forest for £10,000.

1991: Makes Republic of Ireland debut in 1-1 draw with Chile in Dublin.

1992: Arrested after rowdy scenes outside a Nottingham nightclub, but released without charge.

1993: January - Thrown out of another nightclub after being caught up in a brawl.

July - Joins Manchester United for then British transfer record £3.75million after 154 matches and 33 goals for Forest.

1994: Marks first season with United by helping club complete their first League and FA Cup double.

1995: Sent off for first time in career for stamping on Crystal Palace's Gareth Southgate during FA Cup semi-final replay. Later fined £5,000.

Two more red cards follow in first three months of 1995-96 campaign, at Blackburn in August and at home to Middlesbrough in October.

1996: March - Sent off on his 30th appearance for the Republic of Ireland against Russia in Mick McCarthy's first match as manager.

May - Helps United clinch historic second double with 1-0 FA Cup final win over Liverpool. Fails to report for McCarthy's testimonial and Republic training after going on holiday to Italy, is denied Republic captaincy and left out for six matches by the national boss.

1997: April - Misses penalty for Republic against Romania and escapes without punishment after being involved in alleged butting incident.

August - Named United captain following Eric Cantona's departure.

September - Injures his knee trying to foul Leeds' Alf Inge Haaland at Elland Road. Misses rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.

1999: April - Sent off against Arsenal in FA Cup semi-final replay for two bookable offences. Also booked in Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus ruling him out of final against Bayern Munich.

November - Scores the goal which earns a 1-0 Toyota Cup victory over Palmeiras of Brazil. United are the first British club to lift the Inter-Continental Cup.

December - Signs a new four-year deal to stay at Old Trafford.

2000: May - Named PFA and Football Writers' Association player of the year before lifting another Premier League title.

August - Sent off in Charity Shield at Wembley for two bookings, the second for a cynical challenge from behind on Chelsea's Gustavo Poyet.

November - Criticises lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford accusing corporate spectators of being unable "to spell football never mind understand it" and only being interested in prawn sandwiches.

2001: April - Criticises United team-mates suggesting it may be time to break up the squad following their Champions League quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich.

Sent off after horrific pre-meditated lunge at Haaland in United's derby encounter with Manchester City.

September - Sent off for the ninth time in his United career after raising his hands at Newcastle's Alan Shearer.

2002: May - Keane is sent home from the World Cup after a row with Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

August - Admits in his autobiography that his red-card tackle on Haaland was deliberate.

September - Sent off for elbowing Jason McAteer during Manchester United's 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

October - Banned for five matches and fined £150,000 over Haaland incident.

2003: February - Despite the efforts of new Ireland manager Brian Kerr to tempt him back into the Republic's set-up, Keane announces his intention to retire from international football.

2004: February - Sent off as United lose in Porto in a Champions League last-16 clash.

April - Announces he will play for Republic of Ireland.

May - Makes first appearance for Ireland since McCarthy bust-up in friendly with Romania.

2005: February - Involved in tunnel row with Patrick Vieira before United's 4-2 win against Arsenal.

August - Sir Alex Ferguson admits he had a row with Keane at United's pre-season training camp in Portugal in July.

October - Announces his international retirement for a second time.

November - Leaves Manchester United by mutual consent.

December - Signs for Celtic in an 18-month deal.

2006: January - Makes Celtic debut in embarrassing Scottish Cup defeat to First Division Clyde.

May - Finishes the season at Celtic, who win the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

June - Announces his retirement from football.

August - Confirmed as new manager of Sunderland.

2007: April - Earns automatic promotion to the Premier League for Sunderland. Team clinches Championship title the following week.

2008: May - Sunderland finish three points clear of relegation zone.

September - Says he will not "tolerate people abusing me" after fans react angrily to an unconvincing Carling Cup win over Northampton.

December 4 - Leaves Sunderland after crisis talks on Wearside.