Roy Keane is famous for lots of reasons, notably his success as captain of Manchester United of course, but he is also known for his stern, uncompromising personality and distaste for the modern traits of Premier League footballers.
The ultimate no-nonsense midfielder became a no-nonsense manager and then pundit, repeatedly calling out current stars for being soft or focusing on all of the bells and whistles and around the game, rather than the fundamentals.
It is no surprise then that when the topic of masseurs in dressing rooms came up during the latest episode of Stick to Football, the Irishman made his feelings very clear on their role, players who relied on them, and why their importance is greatly exaggerated.
Léigh an scéal seo trí Ghaeilge ar Liathróidí.ie brúigh anseo.
In this week's episode, the Cork native even recalled one Irish player who would bring his own masseuse to games, and why that left him flabbergasted.
“I never understood lads who would have a massage right before the match. When we used to work with Ireland, there was a lad who had his own guy come with us,” Keane revealed.
“I used to look at him before the match, going into a big game, and he would be having a proper massage like you would if you were away with your wife for a weekend, he would be getting his back done, and I was like - you cannot be ready to go into battle.
“He would be coming off the bench, after getting a massage for like 40 minutes, and he’s all kind of woozy - baby oil everywhere!
“He’s like ‘oh I need a massage, like mentally…’ well stop getting a massage, you’re f***ing useless.
“I say to all of these players, when you were younger were you getting massages? When you were 16 or 17? - No you weren’t.
“Now everyone thinks that if you don’t get a massage before training, then you can’t play properly.
“These masseurs, I would get rid of all of them.”
You can watch the clip here from 10.10.
Roy Keane on why football masseurs are "too cocky"
This descent towards masseurs in football clubs wasn’t an isolated incident as Keane was always questioned their importance to the team.
In a fairly scathing monologue, the former Ireland captain didn’t mince his words when it came to sharing how he really felt about them.
“They’d be wearing their headphones as if they were players, coming off the bus and you’re thinking, just relax, oh my God. ‘Anyone selling their car?’ – they’d try and buy the player’s cars on the cheap, and you’re like lads relax.
“What happens to them [masseuses], they become mates with them [players], play golf with them and then they think they’re a coach, a manager, and best buddies with all the players and before you know it, they’re an agent, advising them.
“Do you know what else they do? They hang around and get players boots. They end up having loads of boots and the lads’ trainers – scavengers in the dressing room.
“Get rid of all the masseurs, every one of them. You have managers going ‘they’re really important’ - they are not important.”
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Keane said: “What used to annoy me was the lads who used to do the massages, they’d get a bit cocky. They settle into the club then they think they’re running the show, have got the music on and the team wins something, and all the masseurs would be on the pitch – just relax lads.
“They all get a bit cocky, every one of them. We’re having a night out, free bar, and then they’d come with all their mates – ‘you’re bringing your mates?’ Relax.
“‘Are we getting medals?’ - No you’re not getting a medal, relax.”
Even the role of a kit man was questioned by Keane in this mini rant of his, but we're just thankful nobody mentioned journalists.
SEE ALSO: 'Like The Wild West': Roy Keane Recalls Being Thrown Through A Bar Window In Nottingham
