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.
