On This Day (4th December 2008): Roy Keane Resigns As Sunderland Manager

Like everything in life, all good things must come to an end at some point and this day in 2008 was the end of what was once described as a ‘magic carpet ride’ by chairman Niall Quinn. Roy Keane’s departure as Sunderland manager was one that all fans knew would come at one point, but it is fair to say that most dreaded happening.

Supporting Sunderland through the Keane era was certainly one of the most enjoyable experiences as a Sunderland fan in recent times, and in many ways, it can only be compared to the Peter Reid era that preceded it and the current era that we are living through right now.

Similar to what Regis Le Bris and the ownership structure have brought now, Keane made a club and a city believe in itself again. Keane’s arrival came after one of the lowest times at the club, where fans had turned on Bob Murray, the players and the club generally.

Quinn’s takeover, along with the Drumaville Consortium, ignited new life into the club, and this only accelerated further with the appointment of Keane. That season in the Championship saw the club reawaken, where packed stadiums, last-minute winners and a league title brought us back to the Premier League.

When we arrived there, Keane kept us up in the 2007-08 season where we continued to score many late winners but still found the going tough at times, eventually finishing 15th. Furthermore, despite all the good Keane did, it has to be admitted that his success rate at signing players would achieve a ‘pass’ at best, with his reliance on former teammates and Irish footballers not really helping his case.

These signings in the 2008-09 season were the reason he left. Difficult personalities such as Djibril Cisse, Pascal Chimbonda and El Hadji Diouf were completely out of kilter with everything he stood for as a player and now manager. In many ways, it appeared Keane was almost overthinking it and trying to challenge himself with players like this.

Despite beating Newcastle United for the first time at the Stadium of Light in almost thirty years, it wouldn’t be enough for him as five defeats in six – with the last a 4-1 drubbing at home to Bolton Wanderers – saw Keane resign with Quinn stating he had brought the club as far as he could.

After the Bolton defeat, Keane was quizzed about his future, where he gave a response that suggested that time was up.

“I ask myself every day if I’m the right man for Sunderland,” he said. “I asked myself this morning, and I said I was. Sunday morning, if the answer’s no, we’ll have to look at it. I have to be honest in my assessment. It’s not about what’s best for Roy Keane. It’s Sunderland Football Club. I might wake up on Monday morning and think I’m the right man. On Tuesday it might be different.”

As it transpired in the aftermath, Keane’s relationship with new shareholder – and future chairman – Ellis Short did not get off to a good start and it was no surprise that the bad run of form coincided with Short’s involvement with the club.

It was a sad day for many who loved the Keane tenure, but with the personality we have all come to know and see, it was never going to end any other way.