No more kickabouts as Keano hangs up his boots

Roy Keane has admitted he turns down offers to play charity soccer games — because he takes the sport too seriously and keeps getting injured.

The former Manchester United skipper said he is often approached by other parents to join a five-a-side kickabout when he drops his children to school.

But the Cork native said he has decided to hang up his boots for good, as he keeps injuring himself.

“I’ve played a couple of charity games over the last year or two,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’ve enjoyed them, because I seem to have picked up injuries.”

Speaking on The KC Show on Today FM yesterday, the 41-year-old added: “I know people mean well when they ask me if I’ll get involved, but I have to say I think I’ve hung up my boots forever.

“I’m not keen to get involved at any sort of level, because every time I seem to play I pick up an injury.

“I probably take it too seriously. I’m best keeping out of it.”

However, Keano, who now works as a TV football pundit, admitted he struggled to adapt to life once he retired.

“For years, I loved the training, the discipline, the preparation. It’s a shock to the system when you stop playing. I went straight into management with Sunderland, which kept me busy, then Ipswich, but I haven’t been hands-on with a football club for a couple of years.

“It does take a while to get used to it, I have to say. I can clearly understand why many ex-players struggle, but doing a bit of TV work has helped me because I do get to see the odd game and it keeps me occupied. But nothing replaces the buzz of playing the game.”