Derby County are still vying for promotion to the Premier League after returning to the Championship in the last two years. It’s a fight that dates back to the 2010s, when the Rams were frequently on the verge of playoff football and, ultimately, a return to the top level.

During that time, the Rams made it to the Championship play-off finals twice, in 2014 and 2019, but lost to Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa.

Following this period of relative success, they were hit by financial difficulties, resulting in their relegation to League One in 2022.

Despite their ultimate failure to win the Championship, they possessed a lot of players of exceptional skill throughout that time. Especially during the 2018/19 season, with players like as Harry Wilson, Fikayo Tomori, and Mason Mount.

But one player who was a constant for the team for the bulk of the 2010s was Richard Keogh, who proved to be a bargain purchase after joining from Coventry City.

Richard Keogh signs with Derby.

Keogh was a centre back who had previously played in the Championship for Coventry. The Sky Blues were demoted in 2012, and with Keogh impressing, Championship clubs wanted to sign him.

The main teams chasing Keogh were Cardiff City, Bristol City, Leeds United, and Derby. However, Derby signed him for £1 million, with Cardiff eventually backing out of the agreement because they couldn’t match Derby’s salaries.

Keogh would play at Pride Park for the next eight seasons, becoming a major figure in the Derby defence for years to come.

He was named club captain the day following his arrival and would hold the position for the rest of his stay with the club. When given the armband, he stated, “I thrive under pressure. I believe it brings out the best in me. It’s something I look forward to, and I can’t wait to get outside and play.”

The Irishman would live true to his pledge. He went on to make over 40 appearances in each of his seven full seasons with Derby, becoming a fixture in the team.

He won the club’s Player of the Year award in his first season and led them to the play-off final the following season, where he made a huge mistake, handing the ball to striker Bobby Zamora in injury time, who went on to score and send QPR to the Premier League, breaking Derby’s heart.

However, Keogh went on to receive numerous personal distinctions. He was chosen to the 2015 Championship PFA Team of the Year. In 2016, he won both the club’s and the Players’ Player of the Year awards.

Following another play-off final loss, he won the Players’ Player of the Year title in 2019, marking his final complete season with the club.

Richard Keogh’s Derby statistics (all competitions, according to FotMob).

Season

Appearances

Goals

19/20

8 0 18/19 57 3 17/18 45 1 16/17 48

1 15/16 49

1 14/15 53 0 13/14 47 1 12/13 49

5

Despite Keogh’s departure, he should be remembered warmly.

In September 2019, Keogh was involved in a car accident with teammates Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence.

He would injure himself, ripping his ACL and being out for 15 months. His contract was eventually terminated in October 2019.

The Irishman would later revive his career, playing for several teams around the EFL since his comeback, eventually landing in League Two with Forest Green Rovers before moving on to coach at Blackpool and Barnsley. He would take over as interim manager of the former and lead them to an EFL Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers.

As Derby reflect on Keogh, there is no doubt that at £1 million, considering the number of games he played (almost 350) for the club and how well he performed, he was a bargain and should be warmly remembered.