There is never any doubting what a quality player Roy Keane was, even fans who still hate him to this day would not be able to deny the impact he made on the Premier League.
And he was my favourite pantomime villain - I loved to hate him, I really did.
Even when he, rightly, made the shock decision to go home from the 2002 World Cup because of a matter of principle: he felt the management and organisation of the Ireland team just was not up to scratch, I sided with Mick McCarthy.
I wished that the FAI would throw the book at him and his dog would have coiled a sloppy one on his size 9's during that famous televised dog-walk.
I found it hilarious when he ruptured his cruciate ligament when trying to hack down Alf-Inge Haaland.
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I found it disgraceful when he ended Haaland's career a few years later in that revenge attack.
'I'd waited long enough,' wrote Keane in his biography, 'take that you c@nt and don't ever stand over me again sneering about fake injuries.'
Apart from dictating midfield, Keane's fortes were challenging every refereeing decision with intimidation and stamping on players (even the inoffensive Gareth Southgate?!) - even Alan Shearer, a players player, didn't get on with him.
He was the mirror-image of his manager. 'Win-at-all-costs' was his mantra.
But since he hung up his Diadoras and went into management, his geniality, respect for other managers and players, general approach and insightful pre-match and post-match interviews have won me over.
Sunderland drew nil-nil with Fulham at the weekend, but had a Kieran Richardson goal harshly ruled out. Almost every other manager in the league would have complained after the final whistle yet Keane's post-match interview was candid.
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No grumbling, no complaining, he just took it on the chin.
Gone is his snarl and foul-play: his trademarks. In its place is a calmness and sense of fair play.
His players seem to follow code. Apart from El Hadji Diouff, there aren't many Black Cat players who fans love to hate.
He's bought well in the summer and has assembled a squad which should have no problems this season, may go on a decent cup run or two and may upset some of the big boys along the way.
I never thought I'd say this but good luck to him.
Amazing Roy Keane fact: The Irishman can grow a full-beard in 17 hours. On planet football, only George Best, Alan Cork and Socrates can beat that.![]()
And he was my favourite pantomime villain - I loved to hate him, I really did.
Even when he, rightly, made the shock decision to go home from the 2002 World Cup because of a matter of principle: he felt the management and organisation of the Ireland team just was not up to scratch, I sided with Mick McCarthy.
I wished that the FAI would throw the book at him and his dog would have coiled a sloppy one on his size 9's during that famous televised dog-walk.
I found it hilarious when he ruptured his cruciate ligament when trying to hack down Alf-Inge Haaland.
I found it disgraceful when he ended Haaland's career a few years later in that revenge attack.'I'd waited long enough,' wrote Keane in his biography, 'take that you c@nt and don't ever stand over me again sneering about fake injuries.'
Apart from dictating midfield, Keane's fortes were challenging every refereeing decision with intimidation and stamping on players (even the inoffensive Gareth Southgate?!) - even Alan Shearer, a players player, didn't get on with him.
He was the mirror-image of his manager. 'Win-at-all-costs' was his mantra.
But since he hung up his Diadoras and went into management, his geniality, respect for other managers and players, general approach and insightful pre-match and post-match interviews have won me over.
Sunderland drew nil-nil with Fulham at the weekend, but had a Kieran Richardson goal harshly ruled out. Almost every other manager in the league would have complained after the final whistle yet Keane's post-match interview was candid.
No grumbling, no complaining, he just took it on the chin.Gone is his snarl and foul-play: his trademarks. In its place is a calmness and sense of fair play.
His players seem to follow code. Apart from El Hadji Diouff, there aren't many Black Cat players who fans love to hate.
He's bought well in the summer and has assembled a squad which should have no problems this season, may go on a decent cup run or two and may upset some of the big boys along the way.
I never thought I'd say this but good luck to him.
Amazing Roy Keane fact: The Irishman can grow a full-beard in 17 hours. On planet football, only George Best, Alan Cork and Socrates can beat that.
