- published: 25 Jan 2014
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Marc Overmars (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɑrk ˈoʊ̯.vər.mɑrs], born 29 March 1973 in Emst, Gelderland) is a retired Dutch footballer. He is best known as a right-footed left winger, although he is able to use both his feet with equal precision and power. Known for his speed, Overmars' nicknames included "the Roadrunner" or its famous sound "meep-meep".
Overmars first joined a small Dutch club called SV Epe, before joining Go Ahead Eagles in 1987 at the age of 14. Three years later, Willem II bought him from Go Ahead Eagles for £200,000, and a year later he signed for Ajax.
Overmars became famous with Ajax under Louis van Gaal. He was a member of the Ajax team that won the European Cup in 1995 against Milan. However, in early 1996, he suffered a serious injury, which kept him out of Euro 1996. Having returned to action in the 1996–97 season, Overmars was signed by Arsène Wenger's Arsenal in the summer of 1997 for £5.5 million.
He scored many vital goals for Arsenal, including one in the 1998 FA Cup Final and another in a 1–0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, which helped Arsenal to secure the Double in his first season there. However, the next two seasons were trophyless, as Arsenal were pipped to the Premier League title by a single point and suffered an FA Cup semi-final replay defeat (both times by Manchester United) in the 1998–99 season, and were on the losing side to Galatasaray of Turkey in the UEFA Cup final a year later, also finishing runners-up to Manchester United in the league for the second season running – this time by an 18-point margin.
Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August 1971) is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic. Keane was a dominating central-midfielder, noted for his aggressive and highly competitive style of play, an attitude which helped him excel as captain of Manchester United from 1997 until his departure in 2005, having joined the club in 1993. Keane helped United achieve a sustained period of success in more than 12 years at the club. He then signed for Celtic but retired as a player less than a year later.
He played at international level for much of his career, representing the Republic of Ireland over a period of 14 years, most of which he spent as captain. He played in every Republic of Ireland game at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, although he was sent home from the 2002 World Cup after an incident with national coach Mick McCarthy.
He was appointed manager of Sunderland shortly after his retirement as a player, and took the club from 23rd position in the Football League Championship in late August to win the division title and gain promotion to the Premier League. Keane's arrival was cited as the catalyst for Sunderland's recovery. He managed to keep Sunderland from relegation in the 2007–08 season, but in his second season as a top-flight manager he left his position with Sunderland in the relegation zone. In April 2009, he was appointed as manager of Ipswich Town, but was sacked by the club in January 2011 with them 19th in the Championship.