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Irish Mirror
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Oisin Doherty

Top 5 Roy Keane moments of 2022

It may be 16 years since he retired, but Roy Keane is still as relevant as ever.

This past year has proven that on a number of occasions, with the Sky Sports pundit often making headlines with his comments and actions.

Trying to pick just 5 moments from Keane's year was quite difficult, but take a look below to see what we think are his most memorable moments of 2022.

Brazil's dancing

It's safe to say that Keane did not take too kindly to Brazil's antics at this year's World Cup. The South American side were considered to be many people's favourites heading into the tournament.

They obviously felt the same way, as it was revealed that they had been practicing their goal celebrations.

One of which involved the players dancing with manager Tite, an image that Keane was not one bit happy with.

“I don’t mind the first kind of little jig – whatever they’re doing – but they’re still doing it after that, and then the manager getting involved with it.

“I’m not happy with it, I don’t think it’s very good at all.”

When asked by Micah Richards in a Sky Bet World Cup video if he thought Brazil were disrespectful, Keane replied: "100%. I love watching Brazil, I love what they stand for, you think of the World Cup, you think of Brazil. I watched them in 1982 and loved everything about them.

"I love watching them because they're brilliant at football, not when they start dancing ten minutes after a goal's gone in or their manager starts dancing. Do you think it's okay? Really?

"You talk about the game, you talk about respect, respecting your teammates, respecting the opposition. A manager done a dance on the sideline. Are you telling me it's okay?

"Every country's got a culture. Why do you think it's okay for a manager to dance? I've never seen a manager from Brazil dancing ever.

"I love what the Brazilians do, love watching them, the football [they played] in the first half was fantastic but that's my opinion. I'm entitled to it. If you think it's okay then that's fine.

Row with Graeme Souness

Roy Keane and Graeme Souness (ITV)

This was an extraordinary exchange that took place on ITV during the World Cup. The two pundits, who were tough as teak midfielders in their playing days, disagreed over the awarding of a penalty in the Argentina v Saudi Arabia game. What transpired next was TV gold.

Here's a transcript of the argument

RK: "No, no, no. All this will do is encourage diving. He’s dragging him down, he’s dragging him down!"

GS: "Roy, you’re not listening to what Laura is saying. The directive from referees…"

RK: "I heard exactly what she said. It’s going to encourage diving."

GS: "This is not about opinion, that’s a fact, the guy wasn’t looking at the ball."

RK: "Well I’m here to give my opinion. That’s not a penalty."

GS: "This is not about our opinions, it’s about the laws of the game."

RK: "Well what are we here for? I’m here to give my opinion."

GS: "Their interpretation…"

RK: "That’s not a penalty."

GS: "Their interpretation, the new laws…"

RK: "That’s my opinion, that’s why I’m here. I’m here to give my opinion, that’s a penalty. I’m here to give my opinion that’s not a penalty."

GS: "I’ve heard you say it 10 times. Do you want to say it again?"

RK: "That’s not a penalty."

GS: "Let someone else speak."

RK: "Go ahead."

GS: "You learn a lot more if you listen than talk all the time."

RK: "Go ahead, go ahead."

GS: "The ball has come in, he’s not looking at the ball. The directive from the referee is that’s a penalty, we have to accept that’s a penalty. We’ve seen a different Argentina today, it’s not the Argentina I expected to see, they don’t seem too intent on dominating the ball. I just feel Argentina have another gear to go into."

RK: "We’re going to see a record number of penalties at this World Cup, record number. That’s not a penalty."

GS: "I thought we moved on from that."

Qatar 'Stained' comment

Roy Keane during ITV's World Cup final coverage (ITV)

It wasn't only matters on the field that got Keane riled up during 2022.

Throughout the World Cup, Keane mentioned on a number of occasions that he felt the World Cup shouldn't be taking place in Qatar.

In the first week of the tournament, he pointed out the various human rights issues and migrant worker mistreatment that made the awarding of the tournament to Qatar so controversial in the first place.

And in his final appearance as a pundit on ITV, he claimed that the 2022 iteration of the tournament was 'stained' as a result.

"For human rights, this World Cup is stained, that’s the bottom line," said Keane.

"The football has been great but it was always going to be great because of the world-class players but it is stained."

Argument with Jamie Carragher over Cristiano Ronaldo

(Sky Sports)

Keane and Carragher have gone toe-to-toe on the Ronaldo issue numerous times this year. While Carragher continuously slammed Ronaldo and ridiculed the decision to bring him back to the club, Keane always tried to defend his former Manchester United teammate.

Even after Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel and refused to come on against Spurs, Keane said "The fact he walked down the tunnel, he's obviously been punished for it. But I try to see it from a player's point of view, he's obviously had enough, he's lost the head, and I think it's been brewing over the last few weeks with Ronaldo.

"But I will still try to defend him, he's a human being, he's got flaws, he feels frustrated that he's not been getting opportunities and he's had enough."

A couple of weeks later, Ronaldo gave an interview to Piers Morgan where he derided his manager and claimed he had no respect of Erik Ten Hag. Within days, Ronaldo left the club.

On social media, Carragher stirred the pot once again and claimed that Keane would be part of the 1% that would still try and defend Ronaldo.

Expect more fireworks between the two in 2023.

Roy Keane scores five-a-side goal and jumps over a bin

(Twitter@https://twitter.com/itvfootball/status/1600542440372391936)

Roy Keane.

Winning goal in five-a-side.

Shirtless celebration.

Jumps over a bin.

Need we say any more?

Here's to more Roy Keane entertainment in 2023.

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