Roy Keane was a controversial choice as Martin O'Neill's right hand man when they joined forces for the Republic of Ireland.
Keane's managerial record hadn't been great so far, and many doubted whether he could have a relationship with the FAI and not be the main man. So far, it's worked.
Even O'Neill had some doubts, but he knew he made the right choice when he picked his assistant after the Republic of Ireland's draw with Scotland in 2015. Many thought that that was a must-win game for the boys in green - Scotland had easier games to play - which included an away tie with Georgia. Of course we know what happened next, but perhaps the most important moment happened between O'Neill and Keane.
We don't normally eat together, but after that game, when people were saying we wouldn't qualify, Roy and I were really tight.
He was, like, 'This isn't over'. He'd been in that position countless times as a player, as a captain.
Roy looked at the fixture list and he said, 'We've got Gibraltar away, Georgia and Germany at home. We can win those, we can beat Poland away'. He was buoyant.
His positivity, I recognised it, felt it. I never feel Roy is ever anything else. I don't think you can have the career he has had at Manchester United without being like that, the constant pressure, the demands placed on you.
Of course, you can have moments of self-doubt, moments when you worry if you are looking at things correctly. Roy reminded me you cannot get too dispirited about it.
Of course, we did beat Georgia and Germany at home, but Poland away was a step too far for Ireland. Still, you wonder what the mindset is going into the Euros. It's exciting,
See Also: Roy Keane Criticises Football's Love Of Coaches With "A Nice Tan" And "Really White Teeth"
Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile
