MX23RW : Wednesday, April 24 15:33:26| >> :60:806:806:

Top 10 Roy Keane quotes

Sports Mole looks back over some of the most memorable quotes from former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane.





WARNING! This article contains strong language and/or content that some readers may prefer to avoid.





Roy Keane has never been one to shy away from saying exactly what he thinks.

Even during his successful 12-year stint as a Manchester United player, the 42-year-old would criticise his teammates or the supporters on occasions.

It is expected that he will be named as the assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland shortly.

It was while representing his country at the 2002 World Cup that he had an infamous bust-up with manager Mick McCarthy, which ended with Keane returning home having not kicked a ball.

So, as he prepares to return to the game, Sports Mole has picked out 10 of the Irishman's most memorable quotes from down the years.

"Mick, you're a liar...you're a fucking wanker. I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as a person. You're a fucking wanker and you can stick your World Cup up your arse. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country! You can stick it up your bollocks."
To Mick McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup, according to Niall Quinn's autobiography

Mick McCarthy the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager embraces Roy Keane the Sunderland manager at the end of a Coca-Cola Championship match on November 24, 2006© Getty Images

"I don't think some of the people who come to Old Trafford can spell football, never mind understand it. Sometimes you wonder, do they understand the game of football? They have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don't realise what's going on out on the pitch."
Criticising some of the fans who attend matches at Old Trafford

"Just because you are paid £120,000 a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham, you think you are a superstar. The younger players have been let down by some of the experienced players. They are just not leading. There is a shortage of characters in this team. It seems to be in this club that you have to play badly to be rewarded. Maybe that's what I should do when I come back. Play badly."
An interview with MUTV that was never aired

"I'd waited long enough. I fucking hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***. And don't ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries."
Talking about the Alf Inge Haaland tackle in his autobiography

Roy Keane of Manchester United shouts at Alf Inge Haaland of Manchester City following his red card during the FA Carling Premiership match on April 21, 2001© Getty Images

"People look back on my career and think the injuries and leaving the Ireland team at the World Cup were the disappointments. None of that stuff comes into it. The biggest disappointments were the games we lost in Europe. Years when we just got sucked into the bull, 'the final is in Glasgow this season, the manager's home city,' as if that entitled us to a break. 'The final's in Old Trafford this season, made for us.'

"People got sucked into that. Even that night in Barcelona, it was a great night in the history of the club, and it will be hard to beat it, but you knew some people had reached their height. It's human nature. I was frustrated by this. I wanted to get back there again, because as much as I thought we were a good team, until you get to a second or third final, you don't confirm it. It disappoints me that I didn't win the World Cup. People say 'but Roy, you played for Ireland, you were never going to win the World Cup'. I never saw it like that."
Discussing any regrets that he has

"Patrick Vieira is 6'4", and he starts having a go at Gary Neville, so I said 'come on have a go at me,' that's it."
Reflecting on an altercation with Patrick Vieira in the Highbury tunnel

Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane challenge for possession.© Getty Images

"Will those on TV yesterday be remembered for what they've achieved? None whatsoever. I wouldn't trust them to walk my dog. There are ex-players and ex-referees being given air-time who I wouldn't listen to in a pub."
On some of the pundits involved within the game

"If you love Senegal so much, why don't you go play for them?"
Also aimed at Vieira

"If they don't want to come because their wife wants to go shopping in London, it's a sad state of affairs. To me, that player is weak because his wife runs his life."
On the influence of WAGs on players

"I remember having conversations about loyalty when I was at the club. I don't think he knows the meaning of the word. To constantly criticise other players that brought him success. I won't be losing any sleep over it."
Responding to criticism written about him by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane lift the Premier League trophy aloft in May 2001.© Getty Images

ID:115966: cacheID:115966:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8053:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Roy Keane in action for Manchester United at Aston Villa.
Read Next:
Delaney: 'No Keane problems'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Result
Munar
Borges
7 6
5 4
Result
Navone
Popyrin
7 6
5 2
Result
Vukic
Daniel
2 77 1
6 61 6
Result
Bouzas Maneiro
Badosa
2 6 6
6 3 3
Result
Davis
Sherif
6 64 4
4 77 6
Result
Putintseva
Yuan
6 6
2 4
Result
Stephens
Trevisan
6 5 6
3 7 4
Result
Zhu
Jimenez Kasintseva
4 3
6 6
Result
Altmaier
Landaluce
6 7
1 5
11.30am
Rinderknech
Shevchenko
Result
Safiullin
Seyboth Wild
4 4
6 6
11.30am
Arango
Anisimova
Result
Sorribes Tormo
Pera
7 6
5 2
11.30am
Zhang
Rogers
Result
Osaka
Minnen
6 6
4 1
Result
Vekic
Siegemund
6 6
1 2
1pm
Darderi
Monfils
1pm
Karatsev
Marozsan
1pm
Van Assche
Bergs
1pm
Linette
Cocciaretto
1pm
Wang
Tomova
1pm
Wang
Dolehide
1.30pm
Dart
Bucsa
1.30pm
Raducanu
Lourdes Carle
2.30pm
Bronzetti
Gracheva
2.30pm
Frech
Cristian
2.30pm
Hibino
Krueger
3pm
Coric
Hassan
3pm
Kokkinakis
Draper
3pm
Nakashima
Bagnis
3pm
Van De Zandschulp
Eubanks
4pm
Baptiste
Saville
4pm
Bejlek
Blinkova
4pm
Errani
Wozniacki
4pm
Montgomery
Avanesyan
4.30pm
Klein
Llamas Ruiz
4.30pm
Burel
Danilovic
5pm
Moutet
Shang
5.30pm
Diaz Acosta
Shapovalov
6pm
Andreeva
Townsend
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!