Roy Keane on the Gordan Strachan phonecall that ended time at Celtic

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Former Celtic midfielder Roy Keane has discussed how difficult his time at the club was due to an injury he suffered whilst at Manchester United.

Keane, who joined Celtic in December 2005, secured two trophies in his sole season in Scotland, claiming both the Scottish Premier League title and the Scottish League Cup in just 13 appearances.

The former Ireland midfielder, a lifelong Celtic fan, made his debut against Clyde in the Scottish Cup, in a shock 2-1 defeat. Keane, however, managed to bounce back a month later in February 2006, scoring against Falkirk at Celtic Park in a 2-1 victory.

Keane retired at the end of the season based on medical advice from his doctor. Despite it being his final season as a player, he dedicated himself fully to Celtic, contributing to the team’s success in winning the Scottish Premier League for the first time in two years.

Keane’s tenure at Celtic, albeit brief, was a success. His approach as a player reflected an expectation for the highest standards, both from himself and his teammates. Even in his final year as a player, despite securing a double, he maintained an expectation for more from himself despite domestic success.

Keane said: [Stick to Football], “I was 34 when I finished. But I should have retired when I left United. I even lost a bit of the love for the game after that.

“I went up to Celtic but my hip was really at me, painkillers for training. I tore my hamstring two or three times up at Celtic. I was commuting. I still had a year left on my contract and I rang Gordon.

“I rang Gordon Strachan about what do I do. I had gone up there and kind of embarrassed myself, I wasn’t really doing the business. I’d said I am finished but losing sleep before I rang him, as soon as I put the phone down I had closure on my career. I had no hesitation, I wouldn’t say relief, but something lifted off me. When you have had injuries it beats you up.”

Keane’s comments reveal more about his professionalism as a footballer than they do about his time at Celtic. Arguably one of the greatest midfielders of the last 20 years, when reflecting on his single season at Celtic, he clearly sees the injuries he suffered as negatively affecting his performances.

Most Celtic fans would look upon Keane’s final season as a player positively and he played his part that year even playing against Rangers at Ibrox in a 1-0 win dubbed a midfield masterclass after his man of the match display.