Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has shared behind-the-scenes details about his experience of working with Manchester United legend Roy Keane on punditry.
Roy Keane has become one of the leading faces in punditry and regularly appears in the Sky Sports studio alongside fellow Manchester United legend Gary Neville.
The 52-year-old Irishman, who also does punditry for ITV, has often amused viewers with his brutally honest takes and no-nonsense approach to the things he sees.
United legend Keane was known for his straight-talking approach on the pitch and off it, with the Irish hardman enjoying a legendary career at Old Trafford.
Keane has successfully transitioned to his role in TV and hasn’t been afraid to speak his mind on topics in the studio, with Defoe now revealing what he is like as a pundit.
Defoe on United legend Keane as a pundit
Jermain Defoe, who called it time on his career in 2022, has sporadically appeared as a pundit and had the opportunity to sit alongside Roy Keane in the studio.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s The Players Channel, the 41-year-old ex-England international opened up to Troy Deeney about his experience as a pundit.
Defoe revealed that former Manchester United captain Keane is “funny” and how the Sky Sports pundit won’t shy away from saying his off-air comments on live TV.
“Have you worked with Roy Keane? Roy Keane’s funny, man,” he said.
“People don’t realise, you know. The first time I worked with him I thought this is going to be interesting, see what he’s like. Cool guy. Stories and like… but he’s funny, you know.
“Like, you know, if something happens during the game with him and that, you can wind him up and be like, ‘You see that, Roy?’
“And then we’ll say something off-air and I’ll be like, ‘You gonna say that?’ He’ll be like, ‘Yeah.’ So, what you gonna say? ‘Yeah, I’ll say that.’
“Just speaks his mind and that, which I think people appreciate.”
Deeney on Keane as a pundit
Despite his no-nonsense approach at times, Keane has struck up an interesting punditry dynamic with former Manchester City player Micah Richards for Sky Sports.
Deeney has hailed Richards’ influence on Keane and how the former United midfielder is becoming “more comfortable” as a pundit now.
“He’s more comfortable now as well, so his humour is coming out. I think Micah’s been wonderful for him,” he said.
Responding to Deeney, Defoe added: “Oh, he’s been amazing.”
Deeney continued: “I don’t think everyone can do what he does because he’s got the player-personality to fit that.”
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