- Roy Keane and Ian Wright clashed over a transfer demand a player once made
- A goalkeeper Keane wanted to sign while managing Sunderland had a request
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Roy Keane called out Ian Wright for being ‘childish’ as the two clashed in a dispute over a player’s curious transfer demand.
The Manchester United legend was reminiscing about his stint managing Sunderland between 2006 and 2008, during which time he won them promotion to the Premier League.
Keane left the Stadium of Light after a feud with majority shareholder Ellis Short – but not before he’d dealt with a player’s transfer request in typically stern style.
He recalls one goalkeeper demanding to bring a goalkeeping coach with him to the club if he were to sign – a request that turned the deal stone cold.
‘I remember I tried to sign a player years ago when I was at and part of the deal he wanted to bring his own goalkeeping coach because he had him at the club,’ Keane told the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
A goalkeeper once asked Roy Keane if he could bring his coach with him to Sunderland
The Manchester United legend called the deal off after the goalkeeper insisted on it
Ian Wright seemed to feel Keane had been unreasonable and was thus dubbed ‘childish’
‘They became mates, you see, played golf together and all that. I said “no,” and he said, “But I want (him).”
‘I said: “No, I’ve already got a really good goalkeeper coach. Sometimes, actually, it would be good for you to have a different voice to hear.”
‘He went: “No, no,'” and I said: “We’re not doing the deal.” He wants to bring his goalkeeping coach with him. That’s the other issue you have with goalkeepers. They become mates with people.’
Podcast co-host Wright felt Keane had gone too far in calling off the transfer based on that reason. ‘Yeah, but Roy… you didn’t sign him off the back of that?’ he said.
Keane replied: ‘No, because I had a really good goalkeeper coach. Why would I bring another goalkeeping coach?’
‘You’re interested in the goalkeeper. You liked him in the first place. You should’ve got rid of the goalkeeping coach, bring his guy in,’ suggested Wright.
Keane could hardly believe his ears and delivered his final insult: ‘You’re being childish now. You’re not being serious, are you? I can’t do that, Jesus Christ.’
The Irishman’s managerial career never quite took off. Despite his success taking Sunderland up, his only other job came at Ipswich Town, with whom he had an average time in the Championship between 2009 and 2011.
Since then he has stuck to punditry.
Roy Keane and Ian Wright were speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.