Manchester United legend Roy Keane had his work cut out for him during one heated confrontation with a former player after he “muttered something under his breath.”
Roy Keane was well known for his tempered approach both on the pitch and off it, having had a heated rivalry with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira during his career.
The Irish hardman had a no-nonsense approach as a midfielder and wasn’t afraid to step up during a confrontation, with Keane building a famous reputation from it.
Keane’s aura has been maintained throughout his punditry career and the Manchester United legend hasn’t been afraid to pull no punches when needed.
Despite the 52-year-old’s tough-as-nails reputation, the former United midfielder is thought of highly by his ex-teammates and by those inside the footballing world.
Keane had a marvellous playing career at Old Trafford and the Irishman was a linchpin figure for iconic former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in midfield.
Outside of his incredible skills as a box-to-box midfielder, Keane excelled as United captain under Ferguson and was an important locker-room leader at the club.
However, the former United skipper’s time at Old Trafford came to a sudden end in 2005 after Ferguson axed him from the club and the pair’s relationship fractured.
Man Utd legend Keane at Ipswich and confrontation
Roy Keane briefly played for Scottish side Celtic before his retirement in 2006, with the Manchester United legend wasting no time in entering into management.
The ex-Untied star started off his managerial career at Sunderland and enjoyed success at the club, including leading his former side to a Championship title.
Keane, who was linked with a sensational return to Sunderland, stepped down from his post at the Stadium of Light in 2008 after 27 months in charge at the club.
The Sky Sports pundit was appointed as manager of Ipswich Town in 2009, with Keane’s ill-fated spell at the club ending in 2011 with his sacking.
During his time at Ipswich Town, however, Keane was involved in a confrontation where the United legend was visibly dwarfed and appeared to regret his decision.
That was according to former footballer Stephen Foster, who recalled Keane’s heated standoff with one of his former Barnsley teammates.
Keane’s Ipswich Town had suffered a 2-1 defeat to Barnsley in the Championship in 2009, with Jon Macken scoring a dramatic injury-time winner.
The former Republic of Ireland was under serious pressure at the time, with Ipswich Town only securing five points from their 11 Championship matches.
Keane, unsurprisingly, was not thrilled with the result and the former United and Celtic man made his way down the tunnel after the defeat to Barnsley.
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Foster recalls Keane’s confrontation with Darren Moore
Former Barnsley defender Darren Moore had played a part in the build-up to Barnsley’s winner against Keane’s Ipswich Town at the Oakwell Stadium.
The 49-year-old former Jamaica international, who is currently the manager of Port Vale, is 6ft 2in while United legend Keane is 5ft 11in.
According to Stephen Foster, Keane had “muttered something under his breath” while Darren Moore had walked past him in the tunnel.
The former Barnsley skipper claimed that Moore offered Keane the chance to take back what he said, but the ex-Ipswich Town boss was unwilling to back down.
Foster revealed that Moore “squared up” to Keane and was “looking down on him,” with the pair involved in a “little bit of a scuffle.”
The ex-Barnsley and Crewe Alexandra man admitted it was the “first and only time” where Keane was dwarfed by his opponent and he had “shrank in Mooro’s shadow.”
Speaking to The Star in 2021, Foster said: “Going into the tunnel, Keane barged in and muttered something under his breath as Mooro was walking past.
“Mooro gave him a chance to change his mind. He stopped dead and asked him to repeat himself. Roy said, ‘You go down easy for a big man, don’t you?’
“Well, Mooro’s face. He didn’t say a thing, he just turned around, squared up to him and just stood there, looking down on him.”
“Keane just shrank in Mooro’s shadow.
“It was the first and only time I’d seen or heard of Roy looking that way, he’s obviously a tough bloke.
“There was a little bit of a scuffle, no real fighting. But Roy certainly regretted muttering those words to Mooro as he walked past.”
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