Among Irish sportspeople, nobody’s actions have been as divisive as Roy Keane’s. From Saipan and Mick McCarthy to the Alex Ferguson bust-up, no Irish sportsperson could divide public opinion quite like Keane.
While his no-nonsense attitude proved to be both his greatest asset and most dangerous liability during his playing days, it has skyrocketed his fame as one of, if not the, most famous pundit in the Premier League.
However, that wasn’t always the plan, with Keane originally being ardently opposed to a career in front of cameras. So much so that in 2008 when Keane was asked about covering a Champions League game he said:
I’ve done it once for Sky. Never again. I’d rather go to the dentist,
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Johnny Sexton teases Roy Keane like punditry role in future
What Roy Keane is to football, Johnny Sexton has been to rugby. While this Island has produced many world-class rugby stars, none have been as internationally divisive as Sexton, who suffered his fair share of detractors during his long career.
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Speaking to Paul Kimmage of the independent about his new book Obsessed, Sexton like Keane was in no doubt about why he wouldn’t be getting involved in punditry.
I always tried to be respectful, and honest. A few people have told me that such honesty would make me a good pundit, but I Iet it be known during my career that I wasn’t interested. If being honest means saying something critical about a former teammate to a huge TV audience, then thanks but no thanks.
While for the moment Sexton might be determined to avoid a life in punditry, that former Irish out-half was reluctant to close the door on the opportunity, revealing that just like Keane, he could end up in the role yet.
He was probed twice by Kimmage on the issue, with Sexton keeping the door open on both occasions:
Yeah . . . but I could do a Roy Keane on it.
No, but like I said, maybe in five or six years I’ll be like Roy Keane.
While punditry might be a conversation for a different day, Sexton has been linked with a return to the Irish camp in recent days. Neil Fissler of Rugby Pass has reported that Sexton may be teeing up a return to the set up taking up as a kicking/attack coach.
If like Keane however, a coaching role does not prove as fruitful as expected, then we may see the Leinster legend doing a u-turn on his punditry shutdown and assuming a cut-throat position on televisions across Europe.
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