Signing Richard Keogh for just £1 million was a real bargain for a man who would go on to become club captain
The Rams advanced to the Championship Playoff Finals twice in that span, in 2014 and 2019, but were defeated by Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa both times.
Following this, they experienced financial difficulties, which resulted in their 2022 relegation to League One.
Nevertheless, despite their lacklustre results, they had a number of players during their Championship years who were just exceptional. especially in the 18/19 season, when they had players like Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, and Harry Wilson.
Richard Keogh, who would end up being a bargain deal, was one man that was there throughout the majority of the 2010s and was a constant for the team.
Richard Keogh signs for Derby
Keogh was a centre back who had played for Coventry City in the Championship before. After the Sky Blues were demoted in 2012, Keogh’s impressive play attracted the attention of Championship clubs.
The teams primarily pursuing Keogh were Derby, Leeds United, Bristol City, Cardiff City, and Bristol City. However, Derby acquired him for £1 million, and Cardiff withdrew from the agreement because they were unable to match Derby’s salary.
He would play for the next eight seasons at Pride Park and establish himself as a vital member of Derby’s defence in the years to come.
The day he arrived, he was named club captain, a designation he would hold for the duration of his tenure with the club. He remarked, “I thrive on the pressure,” after receiving the armband. It makes me feel like my best self. I eagerly anticipate playing outside since I look forward to it.”
The Irishman would keep his promise. He would go on to play in every one of Derby’s seven complete seasons, totaling over 40 appearances, solidifying his place in the starting line-up.
In his first season, he was named the team’s Player of the Year, and the following year, he guided them to the play-off championship. Despite his grave mistake, which allowed Bobby Zamora, the striker, to score in injury time and send QPR to the Premier League, he would go on to win the match and crush Derby’s hearts.
He would go on to receive numerous honours in his lifetime. He was selected for the Championship PFA Team of the Year in 2015. He would win both the Players’ Player of the Year and the Club’s Player of the Year titles in 2016.
2019 saw him win the Players’ Player of the Year award once more after the team lost in the play-off final. This would be his final season playing for the team.
Keogh was in an automobile accident alongside colleagues Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence in September 2019.
He would suffer an injury that would require 15 months of recovery—a torn ACL. Then, in October 2019, his contract would expire.
After that, he would revitalise his career, appearing for several clubs in the EFL upon his comeback, and he is currently playing for Forest Green Rovers in League Two.
But there’s no denying that Keogh was a steal at £1 million, especially considering how brilliantly he performed and how many games (nearly 350) he played for the team.
