5 Reasons Why The O'Neill/Keane Dream Ticket Has Its Risks For Ireland
4. Keane Disgraced Himself At Ireland's Last World Cup
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On the international scene Keane was a committed captain for his beloved Ireland, but even that provided fireworks, which neither he nor then manager Mick McCarthy will ever forget. At a training camp in preparation for the 2002 World Cup in Japan/Korea, he had some unkind words to say about the managerial prowess of McCarthy, as well as the alleged sub-standard training facilities.The resulting bust-up led to the skipper being sent home in disgrace, and attracted a media circus for all the wrong reasons. Keane, having played in USA 1994, was at least able to count himself as a participant in a major tournament, unlike his Man United team-mate Ryan Giggs, but he would surely have loved to add to that. Instead he was reduced to taking potshots at the chief executive of the FAI, John Delaney. Delaney still holds that position, which would suggest interesting times lie ahead.
Arguably, after Keanes exile, the team was able to form a tight-knit bond that aided their eventual run to the last 16, but it would be foolish to claim that Keane would not have added to Irelands on pitch weaponry. There are one or two in the current dressing room that will remember all too well the media circus that his actions attracted.