Roy Keane has revealed his personal career highlight – working as the assistant boss for the Republic of Ireland.
The Mayfield man helped lead Ireland under Martin O’Neill from 2013 to 2018, bringing the team to Euro 2016 and to the brink of the 2018 World Cup.
While the former Manchester United captain had a long run as one of the sport’s top players, he described this coaching chapter as the pinnacle of his career.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keano said said: “I go back throughout my career and my experience with Martin, particularly going to the Euros, was probably the highlight of my career.
“It sounds bizarre because we always talk about playing, and I loved playing, but our time with Ireland was probably the highlight.
“I just loved everything about it. The dynamics, the energy of the group, working with Martin and the other staff members. There was something going on there and there was a feel-good factor.
“The lads were decent. We probably did lack an out-and-out goalscorer, a bit of quality, all of those things, but we got to the Euros, we got to the playoffs [for the World Cup]. It was one of the best times of my life.”
Despite some public controversies – including a training ground altercation with players Jonathan Walters and Harry Arter, which surfaced through a leaked WhatsApp message – Keane expressed no regrets during the podcast session shared with O’Neill.
He said: “I wouldn’t say Martin would give me leeway, but he knew my personality and would let me bring that to the squad.
“I obviously had to know boundaries. I probably fell out with two players that I would have no time for because, to me, they weren’t training properly.
“I would rather fall out with them than not do my job, ignore it and pretend it’s not happening.
“The one or two players I fell out with Ireland I have no problem with that because they weren’t doing what we wanted them to do.
“I would regret more if I kept my mouth shut and said nothing.”