Leeds had a disaster with Robbie Keane sale

Leeds United had an exceptional squad again within the early 2000s, which is what makes their 2004 relegation all of the extra baffling.

Few would have predicted a subsequent 16-year absence from the Premier League, however maybe if they’d not made a string of blunders within the switch window they may by no means have been relegated in any respect.

2002 particularly was a troublesome yr for the Whites, as they lost Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United and their marksman Robbie Keane to Tottenham Hotspur.

The latter sale would have hit even tougher given how late within the window it got here, and at simply £7m, it was hardly excellent cash, even for the time.

At Elland Highway, the Irishman had scored 18 instances in simply 56 video games, however his transfer to London noticed him turn out to be one thing of a hero for Spurs. He would rating 122 instances in 306 appearances, additionally chipping in with 31 assists.

It marked an enormous blunder from the CEO on the time Peter Ridsdale, who had clearly undervalued simply how vital Keane could possibly be for his membership.

His longevity was an enormous a part of his recreation too, as he featured for membership and nation for a outstanding period of time.

In 2015, after he had scored one other worldwide aim in 18 consecutive years, former footballer Matt Holland dubbed Keane a “machine” whose accomplishment was “incredible”

He performed 146 instances for his nation, scoring 68 instances.

Though he didn’t collect an enormous trophy cupboard after his transfer to the Lilywhites, he nonetheless performed loads of top-flight soccer on his method to just one League Cup victory.

Had he stayed, he might effectively have fired Leeds to security. However that clearly was not a danger he needed to take, as he jumped ship not quickly after Ferdinand.

To lose each of those figures in a single summer time is tough sufficient, however that late within the window was a killer.

They survived for 2 extra seasons, however gamers of his calibre are sometimes not possible to exchange. The duty turned insurmountable, marking a horrible switch choice by the membership.