Keane leaves Leeds behind

Difficult spell
Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle finalised the deal for Keane on Saturday before the closure of the European transfer window after the striker had been through a difficult spell under new Leeds coach Terry Venables at Elland Road.

'Delighted to be here'
"I'm delighted to be here and hopefully I can bring a lot of success to Tottenham Hotspur," Keane announced as he was presented to supporters before Saturday's English Premiership game against Southampton FC at White Hart Lane.

Squad pressure
Initially, Keane seemed willing to fight for a first-team place at Elland Road after returning from FIFA World Cup duty with the Republic of Ireland but after two games where he only featured as a substitute, he asked for a move.

World Cup success
Keane had initially signed for Leeds in a €20.5m from Internazionale FC in the 2001/02 season after spending six months on loan at Elland Road, but despite scoring three goals in Korea/Japan he could not be certain of a place in the first team.

Increased competition
The Irish player's arrival will increase competition for places in the Tottenham forward line with Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand, Steffen Iversen and Sergiy Rebrov all battling for a place in the team.

'He's a good goalscorer'
Venables, meanwhile - who like Hoddle was once manager of the English national team - has admitted that he was disappointed to lose the striker. "I am disappointed," he said. "I didn't want to lose him because I think he's a good goalscorer."