More news coming out of the Roy Keane autobiography leaks.
Roy Keane admitted he was surprised that he wasn't reinstated as Ireland captain when he returned to the national squad in 2004. Manager Brian Kerr convinced him to come back after he spent nearly two years away from international football following the Saipan fiasco at the 2002 World Cup.
The one thing I found strange was that I wasn't made captain.
However, Keane declared that he admired Kerr's talents as a manager and felt that he sacked prematurely from his post in the Irish set up. Kerr was given the boot after Ireland finished missed out on qualification by finishing fourth in the group behind France, Switzerland and Israel.
Keane reckoned if he wasn't suspended for the Israel match that they would have won,which would have given them enough points to secure a play-off.
I liked playing under Brian. He should have been given another qualifying campaign. The two draws against Israel killed us. I was suspended for the 2-2 draw at home and I think we'd have won if I'd played. We should have won in Paris. You need breaks in football and Brian didn't get the breaks.
Hat tip: Independent.ie
Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
