A Twitter thread about Roy Keane’s wild antics has blown up on social media with over 5.5 million views to date.
Never one to shy from controversy the Irishman’s ‘mad moments’ have been detailed by Upshot Towers.
Here’s the thread in all its glory.
Everyone knows Roy Keane is a mad bastard.
The United legend humiliated teammates, knocked out opponents and scrapped with his own manager.
But that's not the half of it.
From drunken headbutts to kung fu kicks in the dressing room, this is his story… pic.twitter.com/V2EIiWYHSR
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
In 1990, teenage trainee Roy Keane is helping the Nottingham Forest kitman lay out the first team shirts.
Manager Brian Clough orders him to try on the number 7 shirt, and then shocks him by announcing: "You're playing today".
Roy's hungover, but still stars on his debut. pic.twitter.com/6rbpwelrVZ
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
Keane becomes one of Clough's favourites, but the gaffer is hard on him too.
When his error costs Forest a goal, Clough jumps out from behind the dressing room door and smacks Keane in the face.
"Don't pass the ball back to my goalkeeper, young man", he yells. pic.twitter.com/jtDLhdQYg7
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
Not even his own teammates are safe.
After years of tension with Peter Schmeichel, the pair get into a drunken row at 2am during a pre-season tour of Hong Kong.
The scrap wakes club legend Bobby Charlton, who staggers out of his room just in time to see Roy headbutt Schmeichel. pic.twitter.com/JOGFTt9P7U
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
After United win the treble, Keane complains Old Trafford is overrun by "clueless glory hunters" with "pointless lives".
He brands them the "prawn sandwich brigade" and rages:
"I don't think they can spell football, never mind understand it." pic.twitter.com/XOvGlF0Pey
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
In 2001, Roy takes revenge on Leeds midfielder Alfie Haaland for a foul 4 years earlier.
"I'd waited long enough. I fucking hit him hard," he recalls later.
Haaland recovers to finish the game but Keane is wrongly blamed for ending his career. pic.twitter.com/LLLnxbniJ4
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
Roy arrives at the 2002 World Cup with high hopes.
But he's disgusted by the training facilities, and loses his rag with manager Mick McCarthy.
"You’re an English wanker and you can stick your World Cup up your bollocks," he screams, before flying home. pic.twitter.com/8siNcCFMJA
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
And in 2005, its his United teammates who get both barrels.
In a shocking interview, he says of Rio Ferdinand: "Just because you are paid £120,000 a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham you think you are a superstar."
A furious Alex Ferguson rips up his contract. pic.twitter.com/0fX04RTuOZ
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
After retiring, Roy takes the manager job at Sunderland and starts well.
But he begins to question his squad when they listen to Dancing Queen by Abba before a game.
He recalls later: "Fuckin’ Dancing Queen. It worried me. I didn’t have as many leaders as I thought." pic.twitter.com/9zSc40kfxs
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
When 3 players are a minute late for the team bus to an away fixture, he simply leaves them behind.
And before another game he tells them: ''Listen lads. You're shit. Try and enjoy the game. You're probably going to get beat. But just enjoy being shit."
They lose. pic.twitter.com/si6ZSnqFBf
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
Deciding his side need a bit of experience, Roy calls Robbie Savage, hoping to sign him.
It goes to voicemail: "Hi it’s Robbie – whazzzzzzzzuuuuuuup!"
Roy hangs up and tells his coaches: "I can’t be fucking signing that". pic.twitter.com/tQUJ0OeYj3
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
He's equally unimpressed with a journalist whose phone keeps ringing during one of his press conferences.
And despite guiding Sunderland to the Premier League, things are starting to go wrong on the pitch… pic.twitter.com/skeNirs8FZ
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
After one defeat, he smashes the tactics board in half with a kung fu kick.
He screams at Danny Collins: "Never come and ask me for a contract again."
And captain, Dean Whitehead, is next. "Captain? Captain? Some fucking captain you".
Roy resigns, and the players celebrate. pic.twitter.com/fZzIHACPwF
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
In 2013, he becomes assistant manager of Ireland.
But the squad don't warm to him.
One day he storms into the treatment room and screams at the injured players:
"You’re fucking pricks, you’re cunts, you don’t even care, you don’t wanna train!" pic.twitter.com/Wyfwmrt8yt
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023
These days Keane is confined to the padded walls of the Sky Sports studio, where his rants have become the stuff of legend.
When England pick an unfit Jordan Henderson because he's "good around the camp", Roy is disgusted.
"Does he do card tricks? Does he have a sing song?" pic.twitter.com/q5Lxywqy82
— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) May 11, 2023