Roy Keane has issued a withering attack on football’s obsession with celebrity
and the WAG culture that breeds “soft, weak” players. In an echo of his
infamous “prawn sandwich” diatribe against corporate supporters, the
Sunderland manager turned on the growing number of players who are more
concerned with cash, photo shoots and shops than sporting glory.
As Manchester United captain, Keane, one of the game’s genuine hard-men, was
unabashed about criticising team-mates who “lost the hunger that got the
Rolex, the cars and the mansion”, but since his move into management he has
been appalled by the motives behind many transfers. “Priorities have changed
for footballers and they are being dictated to by their wives and
girlfriends,” he said.
His comments may chime with England supporters, whose team’s stuttering
progress in the World Cup finals last summer was accompanied by the
tabloid-friendly excesses of their partners. Sunderland fans may also
approve. If there are occasions when their club lose out on transfer targets
to London glamour, then, as Keane, 36, put it, “those are the type of people
I don’t want at our club anyway”.
“I find it surprising that geography seems to play such a big part,” the
Irishman said, “or that players let their wives decide. I think it’s weak.
You see it with a couple of big players now. Clearly their wives and
girlfriends are running their lives and that’s a bad sign. I realise it is
part of the package and more so when there are children and schools
involved, but ultimately you’re a footballer.
“Retire at 35 or 36, you can live wherever you bloody well like – London,
Monaco, wherever – and any half-decent footballer will be a
multi-millionaire anyway. Why is there such a big attraction with London? It
would be different if it was Chelsea, Arsenal or maybe Tottenham, but when
they go to a smaller club just because it’s in London, then it’s clearly
because of the shops.
“Their priorities are not the same as mine. We will do the best for our
players’ families, but we’ve had a player this summer who didn’t even ring
us back because his wife wanted to move to London. And shopping was
mentioned. It might astonish many people, but it’s true.
“That’s not a football move, it’s a lifestyle move. To me that player is weak.
It happens at big clubs, too. I could name players whose wives and girlfriends
are running their lives, doing photo shoots, that kind of stuff. They say
they’re not comfortable doing it – well don’t. And these so-called stars are
people we’re supposed to look up to. Well, they’re weak. They’re soft.”
While Keane mentioned no names, players known to have rejected Sunderland’s
advances since their promotion include David Nugent, who joined Portsmouth
from Preston North End, Leighton Baines, who left Wigan Athletic for
Everton, Chris Baird, who exchanged Southampton for Fulham, and Mido, who is
expected to complete a £6.8 million transfer from Tottenham to Middlesbrough
today.
The North East has a plethora of designer shops and some of Britain’s most
spectacular coastline, while Durham – Keane, Theresa, his wife, and their
family live close by – boasts a centre of learning and architectural beauty.
“People who get bored coming up here are bored for one reason – because
they’re boring,” Keane said.
“A couple of years ago, I nearly went to Juventus. People spoke to me about
Turin and said, ‘Ooh, Milan would be nicer’. But I replied that I wouldn’t
be going there for the bloody shops. It should be a footballing decision. In
the same way, you don’t need to live in London or Manchester to be happy, or
be surrounded by expensive shops or fancy cars.
“What’s your priority? My wife and her shopping, or my football? Or money? If
someone doesn’t want to come to Sunderland because their wife likes shopping
in London, it’s a sad state of affairs.”
Always a straight shooter who calls it as he sees it...he's right on and it's needed. Hope he carries on in this vein putting the right boot in and shaking it up. No coincidence or surprise that he took a bunch of losers and in one year has put them where they are today.
Rob Baker, Warfield, Berkshire
I tell you what, he'sspot on. Sick of reading about these so-called celebrities, talentless individuals who are married to a footballer or have been on a crappy reality show. Rubbish, shallow, irritating world it is sometimes.
Andrew, North Yorks, UK
Thank goodness for Roy Keane, who is articulating what many, intelligent people have been thinking for years.
The football season is upon us once more, and the great media machine goes into sycophantic overdrive. It's obsession with football, at the expense of other sports, has fuelled a sub-culture filled with overpaid, overrated and over-indulgent young men who are divorced from normal society.
When the contents of John Terry's weekly pay packet become national news, reality flies out of the window. It doesn't matter that he just kicks a ball for living, nor whether such excess is morally valid.
Roy Keane is right to target the arrogance of the footballing nouveau riche and their greedy offspring, but his comments should also apply to the swollen ranks of football journalists and commentators..
In Spain and Italy, where similar adulation exists, at least the footballers demonstrate a more articulate and respectful attitude toward the game.
Steve Cox, London, UK
Id rather a Footballer who goes shopping with his wife, than one who cripples fellow professionals and boasts about it in a book.
Jamie Lear, City, London (near the shops)
is he wrong or right
look at Sheva....he moved to Chelsea
his wife told him
sohail, houston, texas
Well said Roy. British football is becoming more & more boring to watch. I believe that this is because there is less committment and ambition.
They are payed too much and think they are film stars.
The wives are just that. 'wives'.
Leave them at home and go to work .Like any other man.
I don't care where you live. Just give us our moneys worth.
Look at Rugby for a grown-ups role model.
douglas, crawley, uk
Roy Keane...legend.
Why woud any player who values his own skills not want to work for this man?
Paul, Sydney, Australia
As much as I agree that the 'glamour' side of football could well be having a detrimental effect on the game as a whole (WAGs, etc.), I think Keane's comments are a little unfair.
Footballers are only human and with any other career, it would be deemed perfectly acceptable that factors such as relocation would play apart in the decision. Similarly, if a man's wife/family didn't want to relocate to a certain area, it would be considered perfectly normal for that to play a part in the decision-making, especially if there were several offers on the table.
I don't think he's really communicated his message in the right way here. What started off as a valid point turned into a 'sour grapes' rant.
Ellie Hailey, London,
While I think Roy Keane has a point, I think its only right for men to respect the opinions of their wives - after all, marriage is supposed to be an equal relationship.
But I do think he's right that someone who takes their decisions on the basis of shopping - which is a very good way of wasting perfectly useful money - is trivial, superficial, and asking for a cold shower.
Mat, Agen, France
Duh! What do you expect when theres so much money involved with the sport. It wasn't that long ago that Mr Keane himself was threatening MUFC with a move to Italy unless they increase an already steep offer to keep him. Its partly because of these prawn sandwich eaters and the celebrity WAGS that football sponsorship has rocketed so much over the years. He's happy to criticise them but he never seemed to mind taking his share of the money they brought in.
Rod Munch, Northampton, UK
Pity we have had, and still have, such limp wristed management at international level who aren't prepared to make a similar statement about what playing for England should be all about.
john, Oxford,
Some blunt honesty is what the game needs. Well said Roy.
Ian, Exeter, UK
I have long said that the English game has been destroyed by the blight of a plastic, greedy "culture" populated by bloated egos and their fawning, grasping, empty headed,stepfordesque "WAGs" this is what destroys England's World / European Cup hopes, and is slowly rotting the soul of the beautiful game. Bravo Roy but you are in a minority.
Personally I can no longer stand to watch the Premiership it is football's version of WWF or whatever you call that wrestling pantomine I have retreated back to our local sports of Gaelic football and Hurling where men and women would die for the jersey and still go to work on Monday morning.
Fiona, Belfast,
Rick T, how are we a small club? We're the biggest in the North-East in terms of overall success, albeit it's been a long time since we experienced any. We were one of the biggest teams in the country up until our decline after the 'Bank of England club'. Yes, a lot of our fans still have delusions of grandeur but just look at us compared to the likes of Fulham, who have nowhere near the richness of tradition that we do.
In any line of work you have to consider your partner. But to reject a move to a club based solely on the lack of shopping facilities and 'places to be seen' is, as Keane says, extremely weak.
Mark, York,
I agree with Keane's point in principal but the decision to go to Sunderland is obviously harder than a larger, established premiership team. The wives have loads of free time anyway so they can really pop down to London to shop when they want. The articles int he article don't support keane's points at all, though:
While Keane mentioned no names, players known to have rejected Sunderland’s advances since their promotion include:
David Nugent, who joined Portsmouth from Preston North End - Portsmouth are arguably better and Potsmouth only has a factory outlet and is a couple of hours from London at least.
Leighton Baines, who left Wigan Athletic for Everton - Probabaly hasn't even moved house and was an Everton fan
Chris Baird, who exchanged Southampton for Fulham - Probably hasn't moved house and has gone to an established prem team.
and Mido, who is expected to complete a £6.8 million transfer from Tottenham to Middlesbrough - Middlesborough is in the north east no?
Gavin Greer, Aberdeen, Scotland
Roy Keane is quite correct and is also perhaps remembering Beckiham.
I wouldn't fancy my kids speaking estuary English though.
David, Poole,
Tell it how it is, Roy. Great stuff.
Jon H, Auckland, NZ
Maybe those players who turned Keane down were just being polite because they didn't want to go to Sunderland to get relegated. I can't blame them. It's not as if Sunderland is a footballing Mecca. I'm sure the shopping in London is just a bonus.
Tobin Dunn, London,
He said it all really ,its not about football anymore really ,its about ,money mansions wags,shopping,photo shoots and getting paid £120.0000 a week ,a week.. how mad,this should stop !
James, London ,
Sunderland are hardly a small club- only 5 teams have won the top division more often than us. we're hardly struggling to name smaller clubs- portsmouth, wigan, fulham, birmingham, middlesbrough- the list goes on.
Good on you Keano, get them told!
Ewan, Falkirk,
Well said Keano!
With a lot more Keano's in the upper echelons of the game I am sure there would be an improvment all round. The passion he displays and displayed at Man. Utd. is what is missing in a game where I question where the heart is in many players in the Premiership these days. When you look at the two Spurs games this week some of the players appeared to be doing the minimum necessary to get a wage.
Keano may well lack diplomacy but that does not mean he does not speak the truth.
Peter Oldham, Rochdale, Lancashire
Shame we'll never have a England squad good enough to managed by someone of Keane's quality, here is a manager that is passionate about football and the winning, something the FA and England team cant comprehend. It seams that those who are incapable of winning on there ability and hunger for glory play there best in the transfer and media league. Roy Keane.. A breath of fresh air in a stale sport that's a forgotten the meaning of winning.
MN, Dunstable, Beds
i love i love i love keano....i love i love i love keano (to follow little einstein's song)...
keane was spot on. some of the footballers are soooo attention seeking (or maybe their spouses) & it is soooo appalling.. keane said he could name at least 4 footballers, but i'd say i could name at least 10.
where are the scholes, the keanes, even the cantonas nowadays?
Z, KL, Malaysia
I have to disagree in some points. If this was any other job in other careers the wife/partner will have a say in where to work. This is not only normal it is also fair and right. As well, working in the larger cities has always been a draw to many people and it does take a special 'pair' to move outside a large centre. Sure the shopping may be a factor but is it that unusual in any occupation.
G Munro, Perth, Australia
If only it were possible in The Times to use the kind of basic four-letter-word, one-syllable language that Roy Keane can possibly understand.
Without wanting to denigrate the national game too much - other than poncing around a rectangular patch of grass in multicoloured children's clothes, I fail to undertand quite what footballers need to 'harden up' for?
I also find it incomprehensible how the personalties of such people are the fault of their wives or girlfriends? what drivel...
Funny how rugby players and their wives never seem to suffer this form of criticism.
VB, London, UK
I never liked Roy Keane as a player. Hate him in fact. I thought he represented everything that was bad about mankind in general and football in particular - no respect, violent, etc. And I didn't think he was a good player, to be honest.
Since he became a manager however, I find a grudging respect for a successful footballer becoming a deep respet for a man succeeding in a new role and prepared to speak his mind at the same time. It's all very well other managers "speaking their minds" when complaining about bad refereeing decisions, but the fact that someone as respected within the game has laid bare what football itself refuses to accept is refreshing.
In short, bravo Roy Keane. Maybe the next time the FA needs to replace a useless national manager they might consider someone who won't let hairdos and leg waxes run the side. Not that he'd take it of course...
Mike, Plymouth,
Bravo Roy Keane: next manager of Man Utd.?
PC, Nth Lincolnshire,
So Roy, no bid for David Beckham then?
Paul Randall, Chichester,
Roy Keane is not a head case or a bully he is a man extremely passionate about football and I agree with everything he has said I wish him and his team good luck for the coming season.
colleen Wall, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
Alex Ferguson and Cloughie rolled into one ..................... SUPERB !!!
Matthew Ward, Sutton Coldfield, UK
Awesome. He's right. Much like Sir Alex, the man is about football and training and winning. Not the rant of a bitter old man, but the comments of someone who's been at the highest level and won everything and telling it like it is. Just great.
John, Tacoma, WA
keane is, self-evidently, right. if you allow yourself to be distracted from your game, for whatever reason, your game will suffer.
however, distractions would also include unnecessary and violent personal vendettas which leave you with injuries and suspensions. a more dedicated man than keano would have spent more time on the pitch.
and don't give me the usual crap about taking the fire out of the player. the likes of keane and cantona could have been just as great with a dash of common sense.
not to mention that an unhappy wag can affect a player on the pitch. better to let her shop than to listen to her nag, eh?
jem, london, uk
whats the craic with those who think roy keane would ever manage england?he'd sooner leave sunderland for rangers
kevin, shannon, ireland
let's be realistic here! football is not the be all and end all. any person would consider all factors before any major life changing event so why should footballers be any different? a man who takes his family's views into consideration should not be maligned as 'soft' or 'weak'. keane has just shown his typical bully boy mentality yet again. good luck to his family...
Abu Bakar, Singapore,
I have to disagree in some points. If this was any other job in other careers the wife/partner will have a say in where to work. This is not only normal it is also fair and right. As well, working in the larger cities has always been a draw to many people and it does take a special 'pair' to move outside a large centre. Sure the shopping may be a factor but is it that unusual in any occupation.
Garry, Perth, Perth/Australia
Oldasiahand - see you come from the soft south and far far away from Asia ;-)
Good on Roy Keane for this - its about time someone said it
asiahand, Singapore / Bangkok, England
Spot on Keano, spot on.
Tom , Melbourne,
Totally agree. It's about time someone brought it up - unfortunately this type of opinion about the North East in general isn't just confined to footballers and their wags!
Peter E, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
The man is a LEGEND. Poofed up footballers bring shame on what it is to be a man, To be a man is to be masculine, love the femine and be Genuine. Oh and Try to be a pacifist as well!
Sunderland for the title!!!!
Fathead, Koh Phangan Nan, Thailand
The problem with football is that the whole game is built on mutual disrespect that permeates its way through the whole system from schoolboy to international and what Roy Keane is saying is only one aspect of it. We never win anything at an International level and never will in todays era because we do not have the mental strengh to succeed.
Peter Jackson, Sheffield, England
I agree with keano.
Players earn too much money, spend it excessivly, don't set a good example and expect everyone to pander to their every whim.
Gone are the days when they had pride on playing for their club or their country. They consider it a right, rather than the privividge it is.
marts, Bristol,
Roy Keane is doing a Nick Faldo, who was equally critical of our young English golfers'. dedication to winning Majors. Faldo and Keane come from the same school, coming second is the equivalent to the first loser!. From a purely football perspective Keane is right, but today's breed want their cake and eat it now whilst still young enough to enjoy it.
To say that the wives and partners dictate where a player plays is no different from any person's choice of where they wish to pursue their employment, not only for themselves, but for the benefit of, happiness and well being of their families. Roy Keane, despite his initial successful managerial debut, is in danger of not only repeating the words of Nick Faldo, but of also emulating Glen Hoddle.. Hoddle could not train players at International, let alone club level, to match his skills, Keane will find it equally difficult to find players to match his dedication.
M. Fishman, London,
Love him or loathe him, one cannot deny Roy Keane has the single-minded desire combined with the intellect necessary to succeed at what ever he turns his hand.
His comments are timely, accurate and, frankly, needed to be said. I'm surprised he and Beckham lasted for so long in the same team!
Sarah, Hong Kong,
Even though I'm a Sunderland fan, I can't agree more with Roy's statements. We all want commited players, giving their 101% for the colours nevermind where they live. I think this WAGs culture can be easily seen these days. Good for you Roy!
Walter, Moreno-Buenos Aires- Argentina, Argentina
What is the world coming to when Roy Keane speaks more sense than anyone in football. I have gone from genuinely hating this man as a player to actually quite respecting him as a manager, helps that they beat spurs!
John Smith, London,
So hypocritical it's untrue. He loves to get all high and mighty about these things, but it was him who nearly left Manchester United when it looked like he might not get 50,000 a week (at that time a record salary). And he has the audacity to talk about greed in the game and people's wrong priorities?
James, Herts, England
Spot on Roy!! Was a fan of him as a player and I'm gonna continue to be a fan of him as a manager.
Ciaran, Clacton, Essex
I can understand Keane's point of view. It would be ridiculous to consult both your wife and your girlfriend about your future. There is just a chance that they might hold conflicting views. Better by far to consult only one of them. Just one other point though; are they going to rename Sunderland's ground Jurassic Park, to reflect the manager's philosophical ideas?
Barrie Collins, Long Sault, Ontario, Canada
Keane's dead right. I never liked the bloke as a player but I like the fact he's focussed on his job as a manager and wants his players focussed too. Wish he was at my team, Southampton.
Philip Sutherland, Sydney, Australia
Alas poor Roy, you need to keep up with the times or miss out on even more transfer opportunities, footballers have a short shelf life and want to make as much money as they can, the days when they wore their hearts on their sleeve, and went in to any tackle are gone.....they want to stay fit and enjoy their lifestyle and have pretty wives so whats the big deal Roy, they will suffer like you with their hip and knee replacements soon enough... we all know you want to be known as a tough guy but I bet you listen to your wife!! ...most married men do.... it makes life a whole lot easier
Getrealroy, SUNDERLAND, UK
Oldasiahand, perhaps ends in one p, and it looks like your slant on football is as good as your spelling! Keane makes a point other managers wouldn't have the balls to say in public and i say good on him. He will bring a fresh perspective to the Premiership and hopefullly his attitude will rub off on other managers and teams alike. What we need to do is get rid of the agents, then see whether players decide they actually want to play for clubs out of desire or dare I say loyalty. When the English game gets its integrity back then perhaps the national side will start winning things. I'd also say you being from Guildford you support one of the many London clubs. Whichever it is, I wish them well, but don't slam Keane for speaking his mind and especially because he manages Sunderland Football Club.
Paul Mellish, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Well done Roy Keane, he has said what a lot of us think about today's very average to mediocre players who get paid (I almost said earn) in a week what it takes most of us a year or more to earn. Their priorities are not the fans or their clubs, but how much they can take out of the game; it's not really their fault though, it's the crazy financial system that football, in bed with Sky TV has allowed to develop.
Steve R, Northampton,
The man is the best thing to happen to the Premier League this season. Forthright and in the main spot on, he's a perfect antidote to the Jamie Redknapp's of this world.
Rob, London,
Yes, finally someone talking some sense.
No-one is negating the value of a partner's opinion in deciding where they want to live and raise a family etc..however it seems quite clear that being a "WAG" is now a career choice which has caused British football to become a laughing stock, because of the over styled, over pampered sensitivities of the players, not to mention pure laziness.
Get down to the real world..see the greatness in football at community level developing kids health, sense of community, discipline, and self-confidence.
We need more role models...and while Roy Keane may not be perfect, I would prefer him or a Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes to be the ones that our tabloids make the superstars.
Let's not forget that WAGS are a media invention, and so it is the public who fall for it, pay the money and buy into it and keep it going. That's the shame of it...and the spineless footballers who can't see the goal for the girlies.
Fee, Poole, UK
Good on ya Keano :) ...... This is a man whos been there and done it all in the game... I agree with everything he said.... He has clear passion for the game and at last someone has come out and spoken against the ludicrous goings on with footballers and their WAGS! Its about time someone questioned the way a lot of players behave these days. You see so many matches where a team is losing and the players don't seem to be affected at all, just happy to pick up their (massive) pay packet at the end of the week!
Murad, Bradford,
Here here Roy, but lets not forget that the agents destructive role is also to blame for these decisions and the greed culture.
Luckily I support Reading and I wouldn't even describe our players wives as wags they are just ordinary women that socilaise and actually do work for the local charities in Reading. This is the only time that I have seen them in the papers. Something tells me you wouldn't see the Chelsea wives taking time out of their busy shopping shedules to help those less fortunate, they will be way to busy thinking about themselves and how they are going to spend their husbands money. Lets face it a lot of these women would have targeted players for there wealth. "so what attracted you to the millionaire mr X" is it the interesting converstaions? their intelligence? probably not
Matzi, Reading,
I agree totally with Keane. The women who are married to these football do so because, they are footballers first a foremost. Many of these wife would not be the same person if it were not for the football money and so the players are indeed weak for letting their decision be guiding by where the wife prefer to shop. It is true that football has change but, more teams are losing game and millions of dollars because of the "weak footballer syndrome" and that is because players are not comfortable at home.
Good players are going places where they would be bench warmers because, of the wives' preference. It's sad. Keane is correct. Get players who want to come to Sutherland to play football and not the ones whose wives priorities are none football. It's a joke.
Cyril Ible-Frederick, Basseterre, Saint Kitts
“I find it surprising that geography seems to play such a big part,†the Irishman said.......whilst living in England!
This malodourous little thug is the reason so many of us have given up with football. If Keane wants to really play the 'all that matters is football' card why doesn't he go back to his real roots and stop infecting the English game?
Welly, Dormansland, Surrey
Trust Keano to tell as it is. He is true footballer, passionate for the game on field and as a manager..... the next managerial legend.
Feroz Bessir, Jalan Besar, Singapore
It used to be that the football came first and any perks (like the money) came second. Now it seems to be the other way around with a lot of players. It's great that someone as respected as Roy Keane is coming out and speaking about these things.
Tomsky, Irvine,
Finally ... it needed to be said, bluntly, and Roy Keane is the man to do it. I stopped watching international football after the pathetic celebrity scrum at the last world cup. It's bad enough having it in the papers and on the TV all day long. Keep this mindless, materialistic, style over substance prattle away from sport.
Claire, Herts, UK
Over paid and over pampered, a combination that dose not breed success for english fotball
Me, Plymouth,
A football manager. Talking sense. Where will it all end?
Istari5, Leicester, Leics
''football is all right as a game for rough girls but is hardly suitable for delicate boys"
Oscar Wilde, well ahead of farcical diving, broken metatarsals and WAGs
kent doyen, dar es salaam,
Well done Roy Keane. As a Middlesbrough fan i hate all things Sunderland but he really has got that right. All these WAG's and the culture they breed is bad for football and society in general.
Let the men be men and earn the money where they can get it and want to play, not for the shopping their wives can do. I applaud you Mr Keane for speaking out.
Phil Martin, Plymouth (Ex Boro), Devon
Roy, please come and manage Tottenham!
Kevin, BANGKOK, Thailand
With these remarks, Keano incredibly transcends his playing days...
kidmullet, le pecq, France
Alas poor Roy, you need to keep up with the times or miss out on even more transfer opportunities, footballers have a short shelf life and want to make as much money as they can, the days when they wore their hearts on their sleeve, and went in to any tackle are gone.....they want to stay fit and enjoy their lifestyle and have pretty wives so whats the big deal Roy, they will suffer like you with their hip and knee replacements soon enough... we all know you want to be known as a tough guy but I bet you listen to your wife!! ...most married men do.... it makes life a whole lot easier
Getrealroy, SUNDERLAND, UK
Let's see, living in freezin cold Sunderland, no sights, no evening life, no friends, and, yup, no shopping, compared to London, with all those things, and for the same pay. Hell, I'd listen to my wife too. What's Keane talking about?
Rick Solano, Melbourne, Australia
Roy keane is without doubt the Noel Gallagher of the football world. Love him. Couldn't agree more with his opinion here.
Scott, Sydney, Australia
brilliant Keano absolutely spot on. what a player, manager and person!
artiford, ldn,
Rick T from Dubai you clearly know absolutely nothing about English Football, if you are implying Sunderland a small club...unless you only consider football to have started in the early 1990's and discount any achievements by great clubs such as Sunderland who although recently may have struggled, previously were major clubs in English football, and with keane at the helm wont put much of a foot wrong. Besides take a look at the size of sunderlands ground 49,000-seater stadium whereas a smaller London club's ground in West Ham, can only seat just above 36,000.
Matt S, Manchester,
Takes an Irishman who acheived glory under a Scot to say the obvious.
Though if a man is passionate about fashion and has opinions on soft furnishings he will be more comfortable "down south" anyway; however he earns his living.
Tom sykes, Up North, England
Roy Keane has a brutal articulacy which I admire. He's spot on.
Ian Davies, Basingsotke, Hampshire
Keane is so, so right. I will officially place on my wishlist Keane's rise to manage the England squad.
LJ, Albuquerque, USA
Perfect example is Beckham and wife going to Los Angeles.
H.Wellisch, new york, usa
Bet your bottom dollar since the £35m Lottery win THEY will want more,although THEY are getting there,ref ROONEYS wealth.( Does he still get paid since his misfortune with the Slipper).
Derek Bevan, huntingdon/cambs, England/UK
Great stuff. Sport is ultimately all about the 'hard yards' - I totally agree with Nick from Perth. I think a lot of these sports people should watch the rugby coach Jim Telfer in "Living with Lions" - he emphasies the "honest" rugby player does not make excuses, or complain, they just get stuck in and get on with it. These players need to develop some honesty and backbone. There are no short cuts.
Olly D., London, England
I garee with his comments. I hope the players take his criticism on chin & try to show some guts & good football.
he has been v honest & about time some one spoke on this matter the way he has done. well done & keep it up
ashrafdosani, worcester park, surrey england
Keane is absolutely bang on with his comments, he wants his players focussed 110% and not have them worrying how many handbags their relevant spouses have purchased that week. Maybe he has a clause in their contracts that says they cannot appear in OK and HELLO magazines also!!
Simon Bentley, Huddersfield, England
Keano - He's the man. However it's not just in football. There is an incessant, unrelenting drive toward feminising men and football is caught up in this unholy conspiracy.
Ray - London (MU Fan)
Ray Lewis, Forest Gate/London,
to martin from york he said in the interview that these players arent in his team and if they were in his team they wudnt be what he was complaining about.and if they are afraid of the manager id say even he would say that they are even softer.
in fairness hes right and a legend.
Karl, Bray, Ireland
If Keane thinks these men that let their wives decide where to live are so soft, then why does he want them playing in his team?
And maybe they give the "wife wants to go shopping" line as a polite way of saying that they don't want to play for Keane. Has he never considered that he was tempremental as a player and likely to be so as a manager too, and it may be him who is putting some players off, and they just don't want to admit it.
Martin, York,
Roy Keane should be an Australian, bloody brilliant and bloody right
John Galt, Sydney, Australia
Roy Keen is frank and always tells as it is, which often is not what people want to hear, the truth can hurt. Well done Roy and good luck.
john Milner, LOUGHBOROUGH,LEICS, England
Keane is right . It should be a football decision. A player can do almost what he likes with the money he's garnered after the age of 35. It used to be show us your medals, is it now show us your Prada.
J Steele, Liverpool,
damn right keano, football just seems to be something which gets in the way of "profesional" footballers otherwise glamorous lifstyle. more billy bonds types please and less prancing, self obsessed , egotistical, beckham wannabies!!!.
aandybandy, Rainham, kent, uk
Keane should be the England manager,i think we would see a dramatic change in performance.
Pat, Seattle, USA
Some people won't like what Roy Keane said, least of all the type of players who he is talking about, but where has this attitude got him? At the very least a dozen major domestic trophies, the European Champions League winners medal, the captaincy of Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland, recognition that he was one of the great midfield players of his time, recognition by Alex Ferguson that he was his greatest player, and recognition that he was perphaps the most feared player in English football for the past quarter of a century. He is now Manager of Sunderland at the age of 36, after leading them back to the Barclay's Premier League by winning the Championship League in his first year as manager. Where will he be in ten years time and what will people then think of what he has said?
Ryan, Dublin,
Being a Geordie I should be hating what Keane has to say, but I whole heartedly agree with him on this one.
I am so sick of seeing these WAGs in the papers, famous for simply spending their husband/boyfriends money!
As for the person who said most Sunderland players live in Newcastle, I think you'll find a lot of North East footballers (including Newcastle players) live in Durham.
If your husband is earning mega bucks like these footballers and you don't work then you shouldn't have a say in where you live - for Gods sake they only play until their mid 30s anyway!
My dad has work away from home for years and he doesn't let anyone else dictate to him which job he takes!
Helen, Gateshead,
Well said Mr Keane, players who put financial rewards and location above medals are making the wrong choice.
Look at the difference Roy chose Man U over Blackurn, depite Blackburn offering him more money, and now he can look at his medals and remember the big matches he played in, and won!! Can Alan Shearer say the thing????
Colin Blues, Escondido, CA
'The Gordon Ramsey of Football'
Bet the odds on Sunderland getting a top six place this season are good.
Roy's Spartan attitude to the purity of the beautiful game is admirable. I wish him and his palayers the best of this ad future seasons. Kick arse fella.
Bill Bird, Wallasey, Wirral
All hail Roy Keane! Lets have some players who are interested in playing - not in being celebrities!
Hannah, Leamington Spa,
Never a truer word said.
Chris Spillane, Watford, UK
I wonder if Keane's one-time playing partner (Mr Beckham) has read this! I hope Roy goes from strength to strength because he really is the type of manager any club should want - honest and uncompromising, whatever the subject.
Des Johnston, Worcester, UK
what is michael holloway talkin about .....of course beckham moved to LA for the lifestyle!!!! it was hardly for the football. posh is runnin the show. hes a joke at this stage anyway. its sad to see. he was never a great player but he was always a good player. he could've stayed with real or signed for a lot of top clubs in england, spain or italy. hes only 32 and hes kept himself in shape, and hasnt suffered any major injuries. he could play at the top for at least another 3 years. instead hes off to Hollywood being ridiculous and doing ridiculous things.
Enda, sydney, nsw
I can't believe that a woman (Annabelle) actually wrote 'if they earn the crust they decide the place so (women) shut up and put up or get out'. That's exactly the kind of attitude that women had to put up with for years when men were the main wage earners. Shame on you, as a woman, to be perpetuating that kind of sexist rubbish. A marriage is a partnership, and decisions should involve all parties within that partnership. If I were to get a better work offer elsewhere and my (male) partner had very valid reason for staying put I would certainly have to take that into consideration and the final decision would be a shared one. Keane is a bully, and we all know that male bullies are usually scared stiff of women.
Gill, Lerwick, Shetland
I think Keano is spot on. Generally as a nation we've become more obsessed with celebrity culture over substance and this is particularly demonstarted by a lot of British footballers
I also think some of these players have been scared off by Keane's reputation and probably know they'd come up short of his expectations both on and off the pitch.
Sunderland is within 5 miles of a motorway and 12 miles of Ponteland International Airport - how much closer does Rick T want these to be? I think he'd find 99% of footballers don't actually live in the town or city they play for, but live in the more desirable surrounding areas.
Colin, South Shields, Tyne and Wear
Poor old, common sense, Roy. Still thinks football in this country is a sport.
Tim Morris, London, England
He is focusing on the wrong thing. It's not the WAGs who are the problem, it is the hyper inflated wages which lie at the heart of the disease which is killing English football. The players have no loyalty to any club because their huge wealth isolates them from any contact with real life; they are more concerned with getting the latest haircut or ferrari, and there is little drive to succeed in international competitions. I have lost all interest in Premiership football; instead I go to watch Brentford.
David, London,
I agree with him 100%
I hope he does not get in trouble for his comments as we do not like to hear constructive criticism
ashrafdosani, worcester park, surrey england
The problem with football is that the whole game is built on mutual disrespect that permeates its way through the whole system from schoolboy to international and what Roy Keane is saying is only one aspect of it. We never win anything at an International level and never will in todays era because we do not have the mental strengh to succeed.
Peter Jackson, Sheffield, England
Whilst Roy has a point, if this was a normal man then location would be an issue so why not for footballers. What Roy failed to mention is that with their spending power a Premiership player can locate themselves close to any attractions that is desirable to their other halves. The only other issue could be raising children and schooling. I know for one thing that there are some areas I wouldnt live simply so my children wouldn't pick up the accent as it may affect their success in adulthood!
darren , hackney, london,
Never a truer word said.
Chris Spillane, Watford, UK
Well said Roy Keane. I hope Sunderland do well, Keane always had my respect as a player and I think in time he will be a great manager. Everton, my team have faced similar issues in the past im sure, but id rather have players arrive that actually wanted to play for the club rather than be located in an area where their wife can go shopping.
John , Liverpool,
Interesting that he cites players financial greed as an issue. Coming from the one-time highest paid player at the world's "biggest" club, it strikes me as a touch hypocritical. I appreciate he was an extremely committed player, but he's hardly innocent of financial avarice himself. However, I make him right about the negative influence of the players wives and the general vanity that permeates football.
Dan, Staines, UK
Having watched Sunderland’s revival this concise and down to earth view of the world is clearly why people love to work and follow the man. With my two son's avidly playing football you want people like this keeping sport first rather than the trappings that may or may not come with glory. Football is a way of life but it has nothing to do with money until somebody can make money off the player, be it the club, manager and eventually the wife. No player get's good unless they spend thousands of hours on cold wet training grounds which they rarely are paid anything for. So the passion is there and listening to good grounded people like Roy will help both players and the sport. I live in Copenhagen,Denmark, but orginally from Maldon,Essex (SouthEast) and having spent my summer just north of Preston in the North West part of the UK can safely say that there are plenty of amazing places in the North of the UK for any wife, family or single man to match DK or the south. Good luck Roy.
Stuart , Karlslune, Denmark
ITS STILL A LITTLE LESS BORING THAN FOOTBALL - WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM FOOTBALLERS WHOSE DREAMS ARE OF MONEY AND CELEBRITY STATUS
BELINDA, BRIGHTON, SUSSEX
There's much more to Roy Keane than I thought. He must be applauded for speaking his mind on this issue. Of course the WAGs have to run their footballer husbands' and boyfriends' lives. The vast majority of soccer players seemingly have the demeanour , bad temper and level of intelligence which only extreme in-breeding can cause, which inevitably gives their mainly working class roots such a bad name . These single brain cell, multi-millionaire soccer players shouldn't fret, though. Their equally intellectually challenged bimbo-wives and girlfriends, so eager for reflected glory and celebrity, seem quite willing to do their thinking and career planning (?) for them. God help soccer !
Jimmy, West Bridgford, Nottingham, England
Rick T, please leave the football stories to the football fans. Calling Sunderland a small club is complete ignorance of the game and its history. It's the plastic SKY-boy football fans like yourself with no sense of tradition or history that are ruining this game.
Adriano, Fife,
Roy Keane has just articulated the soft underbelly which permeates the majority of English sport. Harden-up...or English sport will become the laughing stock of the rest of the world as its pampered pathetic sportsmen scurry from hairdresser to hairdresser looking for 'the look' rather than putting in the hard work required to win!
Nick McCarthy, Perth, Western Australia
I vote Keane is a breath of fresh air in a sport slowly being tarnished (maybe ruined) by tabloids and the women who yearn to cover their pages - a sad existance if you ask me. As a girl who happens to enjoy football more than the men who play it I think I'd be one of the few that was at every match with a football shirt on screaming for him, they do an amazing thing, under huge pressure - aren't non-working wives meant to support not dictate? If they earn the crust they decide the place till then shut up and put up or get out would be my response!
I admire Keane for actually standing up and saying what every real football fan is thinking, perhaps if players were left to concentrate on their football the sad show put on at the world cup may have been a very different story
Annabelle, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Finally some words of wisdom.
Zac, Chennai, India
So refreshing to hear someone so high up the Football Food-chain speak some home truths about the pansies & poodles of ...let's face it, very average British football.
And you can thank the tabloid newspapers for making matters worce by pandering to the narcissistic egos of these overpaid show-ponies, devoting endless columns of newsprint to the silicone+peroxide enhanced attributes of their so-called WAG's, and their shopping habits.
Who is this garbage churned out for?
john, Bristol,
Maybe Roy has a point but when he suggests that people are signing for "smaller clubs" than Sunderland, I think he'd be hard pushed to find one. He manages a small club with decent support but in a town with no motorway, airport and far too close to Newcastle, with it's excellent recent redevelopment and charm, to ever be anything but. It's no coincidence that most of the Sunderland players live in Newcastle.
He also makes the mistake of reacting to bad news in the press. Fergie would never show a reaction like that so publically. He sounds more like that other North Eastern Manager, Keegan.
Rick T, Dubai, UAE
bravo..keane. you hit the nail on the head..
ali, leeds,
I have to disagree in some points. If this was any other job in other careers the wife/partner will have a say in where to work. This is not only normal it is also fair and right. As well, working in the larger cities has always been a draw to many people and it does take a special 'pair' to move outside a large centre. Sure the shopping may be a factor but is it that unusual in any occupation.
Garry, Perth, Australi
sounds to me oldasiahand like you would take the money.
keane's dead right. if your a decent footballer come the end of
your career plenty of time for spending
gregg, wisconsin, USA
I agree with Mr Keane, we have the best league in the world, the highest paid footballers. But when it comes football success, and achieving at the highest level. Well as a nation we are out to the races... or shops, might be more appropriate.
There does seem to be a culture growing, where being present at a Hello/OK shoot is better than a world cup final.
Jimmy , HK, Hong Kong
Roy Keane does make a good point, and far from ranting like a "head case" he has reasoned pretty well with calm honesty.
There is too much style over substance in football today, less than average players making huge sums of money, poorly educated , and driven by greedy partners. MUFC may have split with Beckham over his lifestyle, but I do think he is an exception to the rule, though his wife may be a publicity hungry force in his life, he does work hard and has substance to his game, no one could say that he chose L.A. for it's lifestyle, it's America not Milan, and is closer to Kabul in terms of culture, I lived there it stinks.
Michael Holloway, Sydney, Australia/ NSW
If Keano wants to start a new religion I will gladly convert.
I love this man
Dave, South Shields,
Well said, about time that someone with authority spoke out about the excesses. Although lifestyle is given as one of the reasons that Sir Alex dispensed with David Beckham.
Barry Mellish, Bromley, UK
Perhapps these rejects decided they didn't want to work with a head case like keane. good on them!
oldasiahand, Guildford, Uk
Nice one, Roy!
Clive Britcher, Caracas, Venezuela