Skipper pens new three-year deal with Derby County.

Derby County is delighted to announce that Republic of Ireland international defender Richard Keogh has signed a new contract with the Club.

The Rams’ skipper has put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal which will run until the summer of 2017.

Keogh, 28, has made 106 appearances since joining the Club just over two years ago and he has established himself as a key player at the iPro Stadium, while on the international stage he recently captained his country for their international friendly with Oman.

The centre-back is the ninth player to sign a new deal at the Club since the start of pre-season training at the end of June, following in the footsteps of Jeff Hendrick, Craig Forsyth, Will Hughes, Jake Buxton, Craig Bryson, Mason Bennett, Jamie Ward and Chris Martin.

Head Coach Steve McClaren said: “It’s fantastic news that Richard Keogh has signed a new contract; he’s our leader and a fine player.


“He was the only one left to sign new terms and the future is bright for this Football Club.


“We have got all our top players, and top young players, on long contracts and that’s pleasing.


“This team can only improve and can only get better, and with time, it will do.”


Derby County’s President & Chief Executive Sam Rush said: “Richard Keogh’s time at Derby County has seen him earn international honours and he is a highly respected leader within the dressing room and the club as a whole, so we’re delighted that he has put pen-to-paper on a new contract.


“The Ownership Group has provided tremendous support to the Club in ensuring last year's successful team has stayed together and with all our squad under long-term contracts and committed to the Club; we have a very exciting future ahead.”


Keogh joined Derby in the summer of 2012 from Coventry City and has been a consistent performer in a Rams shirt.

His leadership skills and ability to organise from the back are one of his key strengths, as well as his solid and dependable performances.

A central defender who will put his body on the line for the team, Keogh’s excellent form throughout the 2012/13 season saw him collect all three of Derby’s Player of the Season Awards, as well as being named as one of the division’s top five defenders in the Championship’s Actim Index.

Keogh’s form, which saw him chip in with five goals as he played every minute of every game, also saw him gain full international honours in February 2013 as he came off the bench for the Republic of Ireland in their 2-0 success against Poland in Dublin.

The 2013/14 campaign produced another consistent campaign from Keogh, who struck up a solid defensive partnership with Jake Buxton and made 47 appearances in all competitions.

A former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, Keogh began his career at Stoke City, although he failed to make a first-team appearance for the Potters and he joined Bristol City at the start of the 2005/06 season on a free transfer.

As well as recording 40 league appearances at Ashton Gate he also gained first-team experience on loan at Wycombe, Huddersfield, Carlisle and Cheltenham prior to sealing a permanent switch to Carlisle in 2008. Keogh won the 2009/10 Player of the Year Award and his fine form saw him join Coventry in the summer of 2010.

He went on to play every minute of every game during the 2010/11 campaign and was voted as the Sky Blues’ Player of the Year.

Despite Coventry's relegation from the Championship in 2011/12, Keogh's performances did not go unnoticed as he walked away with the Player of the Year and Players' Player of The Year awards - racking up 91 consecutive appearances in the process.

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