Roy Keane: Ex-Manchester United Great a Toothless Tiger

Once Manchester United's rugged, obsessive and inspirational midfield leader, Roy Keane continues to inadvertently self-sabotage his aspirations to transition from an all-time great footballer to potentially a successful top-flight manager. 

A once-in-a-generation footballer, Keane's ruthlessness worked because he possessed cachet as Manchester United captain.

In the coaching world, he is a toothless tiger.

Reportedly confronting Manchester United's Aston Villa loanee, Tom Cleverley, at his home, per Ken Lawrence at The Sun (subscription required), is Keane's latest regrettable moment of impulsivity.

Keane's ex-boss, Paul Lambert, the Aston Villa manager, attempted to defuse the situation.

"Roy's a good pal of mine and there's no problem," Lambert said, per Gregg Evans at the Birmingham Mail. "[Cleverley] assured me that things hadn't happened in the way they have been portrayed."

Clive Rose/Getty Images

By admitting to being a "good pal" of Keane, it somewhat discredits Lambert's testimony since it would be natural for him to protect his former No. 2.

Keane, who abandoned his role as Aston Villa assistant manager, ceased his working relationship with Cleverley.

There would have been no logical reason for Keane to approach Cleverley in such an abrupt manner. 

Doorstepping Cleverley gives you an insight into the mind of Keane, who is seemingly out of touch with reality. 

Here is a probable catalyst that explains Keane's thought process.

Chris Wheeler at the Daily Mail obtained insider information from an anonymous source detailing Keane's acerbic style of management, which ostracised him from the Aston Villa playing group:

"

The atmosphere was horrible. It went downhill the moment Keane arrived. ... There was so much gloom about the place every time he turned up. When he went, there was just a feeling of euphoria and relief. ...  

It is understood [Gabriel Agbonlahor] was talking tactics with Lambert when Keane interrupted. Agbonlahor resented the interference and tried to belittle Keane by telling him: 'Excuse me, but I'm talking to the boss!' ...

[Fabian Delph], who is said to have taken an instant dislike to Keane, screamed: 'Don't try to f-----g mug me off.' Their relationship never recovered ...

Chris Herd is another of the players said to have had a falling out with [Keane].

"

Keane allegedly paying Cleverley an impromptu visit lends believability to Wheeler's exclusive for the Daily Mail.

You can only surmise the truth is hurting Keane because this is a further hit to his credibility.

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Keane throws his weight around as if he is still dominating in midfield for Manchester United, where he played 480 times, won a UEFA Champions League title and was a seven-time Premier League winner.

Ruling with an iron fist, Keane was the tone-setter who wielded absolute authority during Manchester United's training sessions, as Andy Goram found out when he passed the ball to Luke Chadwick.

By doing so, Goram rejected a wide-open Keane—cue temper tantrum. 

"I barked back, 'is that how it works here Roy? Everyone has to give the ball to you?'" Goram said, per The Sun (h/t The Scotsman). "The Neville brothers approached me in the changing room and said 'erm goalie, we don't speak to Roy like that.'"

Suspended from the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, Keane refused to accept full culpability.

Forced into a late challenge, he blamed Jesper Blomqvist's under-hit pass.

"[Keane said]: 'It's your f-----g fault that I'm going to miss the final.' That was the way he worked. Things were never his fault," Blomqvist said, per the book Match of My Life—European Cup Finals (h/t The Scotsman).

"[Sir Alex] Ferguson let Keane go on, because he saw that his outbursts ultimately benefited the team ... eventually [Keane] crossed the line of what was acceptable, and that was when he had to leave the club."

Keane has been crossing the line of what is acceptable when it comes to managing players. 

If you were the owner interviewing Keane for a vacant managerial position, you would ask him: "Have you alienated a dressing room?"

Keane, who is honest and forthright to a fault, would answer: "Yes."

Before Aston Villa, a segment of Ipswich Town's playing group were anti-Keane.

Pablo Counago condemned Keane for creating a toxic workplace.

"Ipswich was like a big family and there was a good atmosphere around the training ground," Counago said, per TWTD.co.uk (h/t Daniel Taylor at The Guardian). "[Keane] changed that. After the Ipswich job he didn't get another job for a while because the other clubs start to know what you are like."

Jonathan Walters tuned out whenever Keane spoke.

"I respected [Keane] as a player, but maybe he can't get his point across as a manager," Walters said, per Garry Doyle at the Irish Independent. "At Ipswich, it became personal a few times. ... In my case, his words went in one ear and out the other."

Keane's relentlessness damaged Damien Delaney psychologically, according to Crystal Palace assistant manager Keith Millen.

"[Delaney's] head had gone. I think he'd had a real tough time with Roy Keane as manager," Millen said, per Mark Ritson at the Croydon Advertiser. "[Delaney] was almost thinking of quitting the game or going abroad to America."

Since leaving Keane, Delaney has played in 47 Premier League games for Crystal Palace.

Vexed by Keane's non-existent communication, Jordan Rhodes has scored a combined 141 goals for Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers post-Keane. 

"My paths haven't crossed with Roy since," Rhodes said, per The Sun (h/t Sky Sports). "He didn't say anything to me when he released me or give me any reasons [for my exit]."

Like Rhodes, Kevin Lisbie suffered as a result of Keane's coldness.

"[Keane] sent me out on loan without even seeing me play one game," Lisbie said, per Carl Marston at the Ipswich Star. "I think he should have spoken to me first. To be honest, I feel like a piece of meat."

Collaborating with author Roddy Doyle, Keane was introspective in his autobiography, Second Half, comparing his behaviour at Ipswich Town to that of Sunderland owner Ellis Short.

"I made the point about Ellis Short talking to me like I was something on the bottom of his shoe," Keane said, per his autobiography. "I think I spoke like that to some people at Ipswich."

Keane, who led Sunderland to the 2006-07 Championship title, despised being treated condescendingly by Short.

"It started with a demand to know where I had been the previous day, that [Short] wanted me available at all times," Keane said, per Paul Hyland at The Herald. "I couldn't give my heart and soul with this fella on my shoulder."

It caused irreconcilable damage to his relationship with Short, ultimately leading to Keane's resignation via text message.

"I wasn't [Short's] manager. He owed me nothing. He wasn't there when we were promoted. I'd done nothing for him," Keane said, per his autobiography (h/t Mark Douglas at The Chronicle). "I should have read that script a little bit better. ... [but] I don't like being spoken down to."

What a hypocrite. 

There is an unwarranted social superiority complex from Keane, who routinely verbally rebukes players, expecting them to suck it up, yet he is extremely thin-skinned himself.

Keane cannot handle constructive criticism that cuts to the core of his self-worth. 

This is the background story to why reportedly Keane turned into private detective Ed Loy, staking out Cleverley's house, "incorrectly believing him to have leaked information about an alleged training ground [incident at Aston Villa]," per Ian Baker at The Times (subscription required).

"

Great stuff from @red_cafe's thread about Keane/Cleverley thing. :D pic.twitter.com/B4yaDUDAny

— Jerry M (@jerrymutd) December 18, 2014"

It overshadows Keane helping out the Irish amputee football team, supporting the Irish guide dogs for the blind and being inside the cancer ward at the bedside of the late Gareth Ian Ablett.

"Roy has this reputation as a hard man, hard as nails, and detached emotionally," Ablett said, per his autobiography (h/t Paul Joyce at the Daily Express). "But I have seen another side to him. Every day I was in the hospital, he came to visit. Without fail."

Does Keane want to be reduced to this caricature of a 24/7 tough guy?

If so, he will be a leader with no followers, leaving his managerial career up in the air. 

Someone link Keane to Monty Python's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."

@allanjianga          

+allanjiang

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