Coventry City may have regretted several transfers over the years, but none more than the sale of Robbie Keane during their final season in the English Premier League.
After spending more than 22 years away from the Premier League—they even dropped as low as League Two and the fourth division during that time—the Sky Blues are hoping to make a comeback.
Before their eventual relegation in 2001, Coventry had been a mainstay in the top division for 34 seasons running, having alternated between the Premier League and the former Division One. After missing out on the playoffs the previous season, Mark Robins is hoping to return. But, up until this season, he primarily worked with extremely little money. His most recent teams have mainly consisted of free agents, loanees, and inexpensive transfers; some of their most successful acquisitions in recent memory have been players like Gustavo Hamer.
Following their respective sales to Sheffield United and Sporting CP this summer, the Sky Blues made their first major financial splash in a long time and reached the pinnacles of the Premier League.
In an attempt to improve this season, Haji Wright, Ellis Simms, Liam Kitching, and Milan van Ewijk were all signed for sizeable contracts.
Why was Keane a major transfer regret for Coventry?
The Sky Blues were spending money on new signings more frequently and for sums of money comparable to some of their most recent big-money transactions during their Premier League tenure as a team.
According to Sky Sports, Craig Bellamy broke Robbie Keane’s record when he signed for Coventry in 2000, paying £6.5 million. Bellamy, who was only 21 years old at the time, was signed from Norwich City to replace Keane, who departed for Inter Milan that same summer. The signing was the subject of much excitement.
Despite his promising reputation with the Canaries, Keane had scored 12 goals in 34 games the season before his departure, so he had big shoes to fill.
How did Bellamy perform for Coventry?
It didn’t turn out at all, though, as Bellamy managed just six goals in the Premier League and eight goals overall, and Coventry was relegated from the league that season.
They haven’t come back since, which in retrospect shows how big of a mistake Coventry made at the time. Keane’s unsuccessful move to Inter, where he only scored three goals in fifteen games before joining Leeds United again in England, further soured the sentiment. With 37 games played, Bellamy was the main contributor for Coventry that season, but it was insufficient to keep them in the division. Of course, the relegation forced a reduction in the team and salary budget in order to get ready for the second division.
After being sold, Bellamy would have far more success in the North East at Newcastle. He was never well-liked by Sky Blues fans during or after his departure.
Years later, Bellamy gave an explanation for his reluctance to sign with the team, which may have contributed to the calibre of his performances given his subsequent appearances for teams like Newcastle, Celtic, Liverpool, and others.
“I never once enjoyed it at Coventry,” he remarked. Although the players were a fantastic group of boys, the pitch (Highfield Road) was subpar.
“I was really discouraged. Although I had had a great time in Norwich, I realised that I had regressed.”
