19. ROY KEANE | Cobh Ramblers - Nottingham Forest | 1990 | €55,000 | After being considered too small to make it as a professional by a succession of scouts and refused a trial by a multitude of English clubs, the Irishman started his most decorated of careers playing part-time football with Cobh Ramblers. However, it was while playing for the Cork-based outfit that he was noticed by Nottingham Forest, who acquired the midfielder for a bargain €55,000. Indeed, within three years, Keane would become the most expensive player in British and Irish history when he joined Manchester United for €8.
