Roy Keane names surprise ex-Liverpool star as one of the 'best lads he's ever come across', they played in different eras
Roy Keane has hailed a former Liverpool star as 'one of the best lads he's ever come across' in his legendary football career.
Keane enjoyed a storied career as a player, notably winning seven Premier League titles at Manchester United.
He also won the Scottish Premier League at Celtic before going into management, where he took charge of Sunderland and Ipswich Town.
At Sunderland, he won the Championship title in the 2006/07 season, securing promotion to the Premier League.
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During their season in the top flight, Keane had former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse at his disposal, and he's called him 'one of the best lads he's ever come across' in high praise.
On the Stick to Football podcast, he said: "Sometimes you don't know a player until he walks into the building.
"I've made lots of phone calls and people will say, 'He's a good lad,' or 'I'm not sure'. I remember when I tried to get Djibril Cisse and everyone said to me that he wasn't a great lad, but I took a chance, and he was one of the best lads I've ever come across.
"You honestly don't know a player until he's walked into the building."
The feeling is mutual as Cisse, who scored 24 goals for Liverpool, loved Keane's no-nonsense managerial style.
Asked about his time playing under the former Man United captain, the Frenchman told FourFourTwo: "Oh, I love the guy.
"Marseille had spent some money on new players by then, so when my agent contacted me and said Roy Keane would like me to join Sunderland on loan, I considered it.
"I wasn't getting enough match time at Marseille, so I thought: 'Why not?' Roy was brilliant. I was never nervous around him. We have a lot in common and both take football very seriously - I never forgot how important any club was."
Cisse, who also had a spell at Queens Park Rangers, added: "Roy was always very straight with me and got the best out of me. I remember one game: at half time we came in and I hadn't played great; not that bad, but I hadn't been myself. Roy walked in and went for me.
"Oh my god, he was screaming at me - really crazy, loud. It took me back 15 years when Guy Roux used to shout at me as a kid. I realised what Roy was doing. Like Guy, he was trying to get me going. So, I lifted my head up and smiled. I smiled, knowing what he was doing."
Nasir Jabbar