Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keaneis an Irish football assistant manager and former professional football player. He is the joint-most successful Irish footballer of all time, having won 19 major trophies, 17 of which came at Manchester United, in his club career. He is currently the assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth10 August 1971
CityCork, Ireland
CountryIreland
I think players tend to get anxious if they've not really done things properly - like eating, resting or training. If you're fully prepared you've got nothing to worry about - it's just a game of football.
I try and have a relaxed attitude and stay quite switched off until about an hour before kick-off.
I've had influences from many people including the coaches and players I've worked with.
Much as I would like to continue playing for my country, I feel the time has come to retire from international football and concentrate on domestic football for whatever is the remainder of my career.
Maybe Gary deserves to be chased up a tunnel every now and then - there would be a queue for him, probably. But you have to draw a line eventually.
When I signed for Celtic I did say to them that it would be best for the club and myself to maybe look at things in the summer but they were quite keen for me to sign for the extra year, which I did eventually. But I will look at things in the summer and see how my hip is bearing up. I'm due to go back to the hip specialist in the summer. It's important to be fair to myself and the club if it is affecting me.
It's too early to know if he'd make it for any play-off or not. But he's told me he is still confident that we can make it to the World Cup finals.
Over the last few months I've always put football first but come the summer I need to look at what's best for my family.
There is talk about putting this right in January and bringing players in. We should be doing the opposite ? we should be getting rid of people in January.
A taxi driver asked me about that the other day. It's too early to judge the players. I've played four or five games, probably three of them in the middle of the park which is my position, so I think it's too early for me to be to making judgments and statements about other teams and players.
I will see how my hip is bearing up in the summer. It is important to be fair to myself and the club if it is affecting me.
You shouldn't have spoken to the players like that. No, you should have.
The manager pulled me aside on the Saturday morning and said that he will be the one deciding when I'm going to be retiring.
If it's not a contract I want then I won't sign it. That's not a threat.