In his later career, however, he became more cautious in his play, and occupied a deeper role, in order to compensate for his physical decline. An influential presence on the pitch, in addition to his playing ability, Keane also stood out for his leadership and determination throughout his career, as well as his strong character. However, he also struggled out with injuries throughout his career. Despite his relatively small frame and short stature, he was also good in the air and an accurate header of the ball. Although he was usually fielded as a defensive midfielder, Keane was also occasionally deployed as a defender on occasion, functioning as a centre-back or as a sweeper.