Roy Keane uses Celtic hero as an example, as he rips into Ireland players and their ‘arrogance’

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Roy Keane was one of the greatest Irish players and midfielders to have graced the game.

The hard-hitting midfielder did most of his work at Manchester United, including winning a Treble in 1999, but he also donned the famous Celtic colours for a small period of time.

Now, supporters get to watch Keane rant and rave on the TV, whether it’s on Sky Sports or the Overlap podcast, and his latest grievance towards the state of Irish football was a must-watch.

Over the September international break, the Republic of Ireland had a time to forget, including losing to Armenia in a World Cup qualifier, with Liam Scales coming off the bench, as Keane discussed that performance and result in his own typical way.

• READ MORE: Martin O’Neill had Roy Keane in fits over ex-Celtic manager’s punditry for Kairat Almaty clash

Roy Keane namechecks Celtic legend Pat Bonner as he blasts Ireland’s national side

Two games in. One point. And one of the worst results in Irish football history. It already feels like Ireland won’t be booking their tickets to American soil for the 2026 World Cup.

Keane called out the Ireland players, without naming names, and how there is ‘ego’ and ‘arrogance’, as well as this feeling that certain players ‘strut around’ like they are better than they are.

Before he named some of the legendary figures that were on the Ireland side when he was first breaking through as a teenager, including Celtic hero Pat Bonner, and how he was ‘competing for trophies’ at Parkhead, whereas this current lot are just about English Championship level.

“Yeah, yeah, not good, it wasn’t good,” said Keane. “I still don’t think players are playing enough at the highest level, for some of the bigger clubs. There are a few, obviously, making a living in the Premier League.

“It’s been tough on the manager. Physically, they don’t (look) great. They’re not mobile. We have got a couple of defenders there. Oh my goodness. If you just compare them, obviously, to England or even Wales. They do have a lot more players competing at the highest level, and that makes an international manager’s job a lot easier.

“Ireland do have a few players who strut around like they are players, and if they ever went into a decent club or a decent team, they wouldn’t last two minutes, and they’re kind of the important players for Ireland. There’s a bit of ego, a bit of arrogance with Ireland, and they’ve got nothing to be arrogant about.

“Back in the day, when we played, I think your ambition as a young footballer, particularly in Ireland, was to go and play for some of the big clubs. I think some of these Irish players, even I experienced it when I was coaching, when Martin (O’Neill) was there.

“I think a lot of them are playing for certain clubs, they’re on a good wage, and they’re okay with that. They haven’t got that ambition to play for Man United, a Chelsea or Arsenal.

“When I walked into an Irish squad, when I was, what, 19 or 20. It would be Paul McGrath, Kevin Moran, David O’Leary. Packie (Bonner) would have been Celtic and competing for trophies.

“You had Dennis Irwin. Steve Staunton. Liverpool. Kevin Moran would have been at Manchester United. Paul (McGrath). Ronnie Whelan. Kevin Sheedy. Ray Houghton on the right. Niall (Quinn) would have been up front. John Aldridge. Andy Townsend was playing. All these lads were turning up and competing at a really good level.”

Keane on the Ireland job

Keane was in the Ireland dugout when he was an assistant to Celtic icon Martin O’Neill, including guiding the nation to the European Championships.

Since then, the outspoken pundit has applied for the Ireland manager’s job, without any success, with former Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson now in charge.

Keane spoke about the Ireland job, had a few digs at the higher-ups at the FAI, including how Hallgrímsson is ‘up against it.’

“The reason you speak to them, because the reason you might take the job, is that you think you can help the team,” added Keane.

“The issues they might have, lack of quality, where you think you try and get them organised and get a bit of fight and a bit of spirit at Ireland. I know that’s not enough, always, but they do lack real quality as well, of course, but yeah, I would have spoken about the job.

“The amount of people who’ve come out in the last six months saying, ‘they were offered a job’, or they spoke to him.

“But that’s the FAI, again. I’ve said it before. They couldn’t organise a ___ up in a brewery. You look at the manager, and you fear for him. He’s up against it.”