Advertisement
Dunphy believes Martin O'Neill is still the standout candidate for the Ireland job. INPHO/James Crombie

'He doesn't like people' - Dunphy dismisses Roy Keane's credentials for Ireland job

The TV pundit also believes that managing the national side is Martin O’Neill’s “plan B”.

VETERAN RTE SOCCER pundit and former Ireland international Eamon Dunphy has said Roy Keane would be a bad choice as Ireland manager and claimed the Manchester United legend “doesn’t like people”.

Dunphy, whose much-anticipated autobiography My Rocky Road has just been released, previously ghosted Keane’s own autobiography and was a vocal supporter of him during the Saipan saga in which he infamously left the Ireland squad ahead of the 2002 World Cup following a disagreement with then-manager Mick McCarthy.

However, the ex-Millwall footballer has grown steadily more critical of Keane since his move from player to manager, and his latest remarks are unlikely to repair their once-cordial relationship.

“He doesn’t like people,” Dunphy told TheScore.ie. “You have to like people to be a manager.

“I think at Ipswich and Sunderland — I talked to people who played under Roy — he didn’t have a lot of respect. He was publicly very critical of people who played for him. I don’t think he’d be a good choice.”

Dunphy said that Martin O’Neill “probably would be the best candidate [for the Ireland job],” though added: “I’m not sure he wants it — that’s the problem.”

He also suggested that O’Neill was stalling in the hope that a better offer than the Ireland job would arise.

“I don’t know what’s going on.  It’s very hard to call. He’s obviously hoping to get a Premier League job and we’re plan B, so maybe that’s not the right way to do it. But I’d still give it to him if he wanted it.”

While the FAI consider the prospective applicants for the Ireland post, Noel King has been installed as temporary Ireland manager, and Dunphy is encouraged by what he’s seen so far.

“I think Noel King’s been great this week. He’s brought back Andy Reid which is right, he’s brought back Kevin Doyle, which is right. He’s making all the right noises. Let’s see what team he picks.”

Ireland are set to face one of the best international footballing sides in the world in Germany and like most critics and supporters, Dunphy is not optimistic they’ll get a result.

“They’re on a hiding to nothing without Richard Dunne and John O’Shea against very strong opponents.

“But I think Noel’s done a good job this week. And I hope that the team go out and play like they can play, without the fear and without the negativity of the Trapattoni era. The way we approach it is what matters really, then you give yourself a chance.”

The Rocky Road by Eamon Dunphy is published by Penguin Ireland. More details can be found here.

Stay tuned to TheScore.ie for Dunphy’s thoughts on Gary Neville, Ireland’s best-ever manager and more

Brendan Rodgers lauds Luis Suarez attitude since return from ‘biting’ ban>

Lothar Matthaeus: Sorry, Ireland — Germany team better than 1990 World Cup winners>

Close
74 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Splat
    Favourite Splat
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 11:49 AM

    Now maybe the rest of sports clubs can follow suit for a few weeks. Show a bit of solidarity.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mattress Dick
    Favourite Mattress Dick
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 11:57 AM

    @Splat: the GAA ate only doing it because their supporters can’t behave themselves. Rugby and football (not Gaelic) supporters would have more respect for everyone

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mattress Dick
    Favourite Mattress Dick
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 11:57 AM

    @Mattress Dick: *are

    2
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mattress Dick
    Favourite Mattress Dick
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 11:58 AM

    @Mattress Dck: I refuse to call football ‘soccer’ btw. Feel dirty just typing it

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe
    Favourite Joe
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 12:33 PM

    @Mattress Dick: agree. Football is football. GAA is Gaelic Football or GAA

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Splat
    Favourite Splat
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 12:37 PM

    @Mattress Dick: Soccer Hooligans might flow off the tongue better.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John kane
    Favourite John kane
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 12:42 PM

    @Mattress Dick: it’s football in England. It’s soccer in Ireland. We have our own football

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe
    Favourite Joe
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 2:18 PM

    @John kane: not really, maybe outside of our biggest city. In Dublin football means the one where only one player can use their hands and the rest have to use their feet.
    The other one is footrug!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tiarnan Guinée
    Favourite Tiarnan Guinée
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 2:26 PM

    @Mattress Dick: it is called both football and soccer in Ireland and elsewhere.

    If someone told me they play football I’d have to clarify which one they meant.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid O Donnchadha
    Favourite Diarmuid O Donnchadha
    Report
    Oct 6th 2020, 5:31 PM

    @Mattress Dick: The proper name for the game is Association Football. From the word association came the name soccer. In the 60s and 70s it was called soccer widely including in England. There was a magazine/annual called Soccer. The new fangled infatuation with the term football being the only proper term is just that, an infatuation! Many clubs had the abbreviation AFC after their names to show the were Association Football Clubs! Rugby is properly called Rugby Football and few enough players kick the ball. American football often refer to their players as footballers and only two players, the kicker and punter kick the ball! For many people, soccer is just a term to differentiate which form of football is being played!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.