In 2002 it was an altercation with Mick McCarthy that sent Keane into international exile. Now, following his ill-fated attempt to help Ireland reach the 2006 World Cup, it is an acceptance of the advancing years that has forced the midfielder to bring his Ireland career to a close after 64 caps. In a statement Keane said: "Like all football supporters in the country I am disappointed that the Republic failed to qualify. "Much as I would like to continue playing for my country, I feel the time has come when I should retire from international football and concentrate on domestic football for whatever remains of my career."Keane's decision will be welcomed by his club manager, who believes his participation in the World Cup qualifying campaign at least enabled the man from Cork to repair relations with the Republic following the infamous walk-out on McCarthy before the 2002 World Cup. Contrary to recent declarations Roy Keane could still be at Sir Alex Ferguson's side next season, the Manchester United manager has revealed, but no such uncertainty surrounds his irrepressible captain's Republic of Ireland career after the 34-year-old announced his retirement from international football for the second - and final - time last night.

I know that he will be a big player in the future and that is what I have to teach him He must score goals like Frank Lampard I say to Jenas - you have to score six or seven goals. You can't be a big talent, a top box-to-box player and score one goal.'. He's doing that.'JERMAINE JENAS'He is a big buy for us - but he only scored one goal in the last 15 months at Newcastle. The thing with Michael Carrick was: is he a playmaker, or can I convert him into a complete player who can play as a holding player and win balls back? He has done that, he's always nicking balls We say you have to be a calf-biter. Sven is picking Owen because he does well for him but that's not a problem for Jermain because he's very young.'MICHAEL CARRICK'You can play someone like Steffen Freund as a holding midfield player or you can play with a better player. For England, Sven Goran Eriksson has played with three up and a target man.

For Jermain that is difficult, because he will go into space and be at the end of the attack. Obviously he wants someone who can hold up the ball, then he is very dangerous Jermain is always better with Heskey or Mido A big man If he has to play in a different role he can do that. We have to be 100 per cent and then we can challenge for the top four."That begs the question of when he feels his team will peak? "When I'm back in Holland," is Jol's immediate reply. It is a final joke but, maybe, when he does return to Scheveningen - so close to England "that if you went to Clacton-on-Sea and gave a big shout I could have heard you" - he will be able to point to Tottenham Hotspur and say: "My mission is complete."Nightmares for a sleeping giant: Tottenham managers since 1961* BILL NICHOLSON (1958-74)Finishes from 1960-61: 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th; 3rd, 7th, 6th, 11th, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th* TERRY NEILL (1974-76)Finishes: 19th, 9th* KEITH BURKINSHAW (76-84)Finishes: 22nd (Relegated), 3rd (Second Division, Promoted), 11th, 14th, 10th, 4th, 4th, 8th* PETER SHREEVES (1984-86)Finishes: 3rd, 10th* DAVID PLEAT (1986-87)Finish: 3rd* TERRY VENABLES (1987-91)Finishes: 13th, 6th, 3rd, 10th* PETER SHREEVES (1991-92)Finish: 15th* DOUG LIVERMORE (Caretaker, 1992-93)Finish: 8th* OSSIE ARDILES (1993-Nov 1994)Finish: 15th* STEVE PERRYMAN (Caretaker, Nov 1994)* GERRY FRANCIS (1994-97)Finishes: 15th, 7th, 8th, 10th* CHRISTIAN GROSS (97-98)Finish: 14th* DAVID PLEAT & CHRIS HUGHTON (Caretakers, Sep-Oct 1998)* GEORGE GRAHAM(1998-2001)Finishes: 11th, 10th* DAVID PLEAT (Caretaker, Mar-Apr 2001)* GLENN HODDLE (2001-03)Finishes: 12th, 9th, 10th* DAVID PLEAT (Caretaker, Sep 03-June 04)Finish: 14th* JACQUES SANTINI (June-Nov 2004)* MARTIN JOL(Nov 2004 to present)Finish: 9thMemo to Sven: Jol on Spurs' England contendersJERMAIN DEFOE'He is probably the best finisher in the game I would always play to his strength.