Midfielder, manager, meme: The many faces of Roy Keane

What alchemy transformed Keane from the most combustible footballer of his generation to the man who did three interviews Live at the Marquee this week, asks Colin Sheridan

ITV pundit Roy Keane at the ground ahead of the Emirates FA Cup fourth round match at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. Picture date: Sunday January 28, 2024.

ONCE upon a time in Cork, a baby was born who would grow up to terrify not just opposition midfielders, but also his own teammates, his managers, and presumably the postman if he happened to take pause and congratulate himself on doing an honest day’s work (It’s his job!!).

His name was Roy Keane. It’s almost impossible to imagine he was once a baby, but a baby he presumably was. Once.