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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Vincent Whelan

Roy Keane recalls doing 'Bruce Lee' karate kick on tactics board during irate team talk at Sunderland

Roy Keane's up and down time at Sunderland has been well chronicled over the years. But the man himself has shared a few previously unknown titbits in a new interview.

Speaking to League of 72 over the course of a half-hour long chat, the Ireland legend reflected on the success he had as well as the many mistakes he made in his first season in management during the 2006-07 campaign.

Chief among them were emphasizing how difficult Derby County's goalkeeper would be to beat for ten minutes before his first game in charge only for David Connolly to raise his hand and point out that he'd been sold a few weeks previously.

READ MORE: Roy Keane makes Premier League prediction as he disagrees with Graeme Souness

Keane joked he chalked that one up to an error by the scouting department before then saying in a weird way it lightened the mood and helped everyone to relax before going out to take all three points.

And the volatile Corkman shared an even better memory around a fixture against Wolves where he did lose his famous temper (which he otherwise plays down as being overstated).

He recalled: "When I was playing I was obviously in the middle of a physical battle. Playing in the middle of the park part of my job was to hit people. And they were hitting me.

"Obviously then when I was a manager I didn't want to be hitting anyone. I was very tempted a few times! But I suppose that temper was still there.

"I hadn't lost it. I just knew I was managing people. I was an important figure at the football club so I couldn't be coming in every day ranting and raving at players.

"That wasn't part of the coaching course obviously. So again I found that pretty easy (along with the transition from playing to managing).

"There were times in the dressing room where of course I lost my temper. I remember the Wolves game where our first-half performance wasn't good enough.

"I asked Cooky the kit man to put the tactics board up and did a pretty good Bruce Lee impression by giving it a karate kick!

"I don't know if it helped the players but it helped me."

Elsewhere in the interview, he acknowledged that he has spoken to clubs, including The Black Cats, in recent times about a return to management but has yet to receive an offer that ticks every box for him in terms of committing to him as a long-term option.

He reiterated how content he is with his current lifestyle as one of the star attractions on Sky Sports' coverage of the Premier League although he admitted he does still get a hankering at weekends that he should be in a dugout somewhere rather than up in the broadcaster's studio.

The 50-year-old also stated that while everyone tends to remember his promotion charge with Sunderland, he feels keeping them in the Premier League the following year when their squad was beset by injuries was the greater achievement.

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