Roy Keane has once again been a familiar face throughout ITV’s coverage of this summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America. But despite spending decades working at football’s biggest tournaments, the Manchester United icon has admitted there was one World Cup where he simply had to get away.
The former midfielder is now one of the country’s best-known pundits through his work with Sky Sports, ITV and the hugely successful Stick to Football podcast. He has earned plaudits among fans and commentators for his no-nonsense analysis.
Although Keane appears to have embraced life on the road in the United States, he previously revealed that the demands of tournament life eventually became too much for him. During the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, the 54-year-old decided to fly back home for several days after admitting his colleagues had started “getting on my nerves”. The revelation emerged during a Sky Bet-sponsored podcast episode when Micah Richards questioned Keane about whether he had enjoyed the tournament.
“I think it’s been OK. It’s not been bad,” Keane responded. “Even if you’re not working, gone to one or two games just as a football fan. We’ve been here three weeks remember. It’s been fine.”
Co-host Gary Neville then interjected to disclose that Keane had quietly slipped away for a few days in the middle of the tournament. “Roy went home for four or five days as well actually. Went back,” the former Old Trafford favourite revealed.
Keane then shed light on precisely why he had chosen to head home, confessing: “I had a break. I needed a break. My tolerance levels [were starting to go]. People getting on my nerves.” Richards promptly asked, “Name names, who was getting on your nerves?” but Keane declined to expose those responsible, quipping: “How long have we got? How long have we got? Fellow pundits. I had a break.”
Neville was swift to distance himself, insisting he was not one of those who had wound up his former team-mate. “It wasn’t me though,” he said.
“I can see when the tank’s filling up, it’s like one of those challenges in I’m a Celebrity Micah with Roy. You can see when the tank’s coming up to his head. You’ve got to get out of there.” Keane cheekily fired back: “You’re very cruel.”
The United legend is no stranger to locking horns with those around him. Throughout his playing days, he earned a reputation for explosive dressing-room bust-ups, most notably his legendary falling-out with then-Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, which resulted in his sensational dismissal from the 2002 World Cup squad.
Since transitioning into punditry, Keane has remained equally forthright, consistently delivering searingly honest assessments on the game’s biggest talking points.