Harry Redknapp believes Roy Keane ‘isn’t as tough as he makes out’.
And the Premier League icon has also joked that he ‘wouldn’t mind fighting’ the Manchester United legend to prove it, too.
Keane became the stuff of folklore during his playing days, with the former midfielder winning seven league titles during his time at Old Trafford.
He also represented Nottingham Forest and Celtic, ending his career with the latter in 2006 after falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Harry Redknapp believes Roy Keane ‘isn’t as tough as he makes out’. And the Premier League icon has also joked that he ‘wouldn’t mind fighting’ the Manchester United legend to prove it, too.
SOCCERPM
Keane was sent off 13 times during his career, with the 53-year-old establishing himself as one of the hardest men in the game.
Yet Redknapp, speaking to Soccer PM, has now expressed a belief that the United icon isn’t the hardman he makes out.
Furthermore, the ex-Prem boss has even quipped that he’s open to ‘fighting’ Keane to prove his point.
“I don’t think Roy Keane’s as tough as he makes out,” he said.
“It’s all bravado. I wouldn’t mind fighting Roy Keane, actually.”
Keane’s hardman reputation doesn’t just stem from the 13 dismissals he faced during his playing days.
He infamously broke Alf Inge Haaland’s leg in a Manchester derby showdown back in 2001, with the former footballer later admitting he did it as an act of revenge.
Haaland had previously screamed at Keane when he went down injured during a match between Leeds and United.
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Keane later said in his 2002 autobiography: “I’d waited long enough. I f****g hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c**t.
“And don’t ever stand over me again sneering about fake injuries.
“And tell your pal [David] Wetherall there’s some for him as well.
“I didn’t wait for Mr Elleray to show the red card. I turned and walked to the dressing room.”
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Harry Redknapp has joked about fighting Premier League legend Roy Keane
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Keane subsequently received a further five-game ban, plus a £150,000 fine, from the Football Association following those comments.
He did, however, later say that the allegation he meant to seriously injure Haaland was wide of the mark.
In 2002, Keane also fell out with Mick McCarthy as the Republic of Ireland were preparing for the World Cup.
After a blazing row the ex-midfielder ended up jetting home from the tournament, with Ireland proceeding to lose to Spain on penalties in the round of 16.
Roy Keane is considered one of the toughest men to have ever graced the Premier League
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These days, Keane performs punditry for Sky Sports.
He also does work for ITV as well, having covered the European Championships in Germany for the broadcaster this summer.