Former Irish international and legendary defender Paul McGrath is close friends with Roy Keane and insists that the ex-Celt is not quite the angry disciplinarian that the TV cameras would have you believe.
McGrath told the Sunday World : “The Roy Keane I know and like is not the man so many people believe him to be. I have always got on great with Roy. He is a funny guy, a genuine person and has always been great company as a team-mate and in the years since we both stopped playing.”
Keane has been linked with the Celtic managerial post in recent weeks and many supporters fear that he is a clone of Neil Lennon and not the modern type of manager required. However, McGrath has poured cold water on those fears by going on to say:
“The Roy Keane we see on Sky Sports is very much a guy who has created a TV identity and he lives up to it with his comments, but don’t kid yourself and think Roy is like that all the time. If Roy gets the Celtic job, he would go into the club and shake a few things up, which is what they need given what we have seen with that team this year.”
The former Manchester United and Aston Villa star went on to explain how Keane may be a good fit for the Hoops:
“I also feel he (Keane) will have learned from what has happened in his management career so far, as shouting and screaming at modern day players just doesn’t work. He would be a good fit for Celtic. Seeing him competing with Steven Gerrard at Rangers would have us all watching Old Firm matches next season and I hope he gets the job.
“If he is allowed to get the right players in at a club he clearly loves, I’m sure the Celtic fans would warm to having him as their manager.”
