Roy Keane isn't as tough as he makes out, according to a former Premier League manager, who called out the ex-Manchester United captain and his so-called "bravado" in an unexpected video message.
As far as Premier League hardmen go, there isn't many people that compare to Keane.
The midfielder, who was renowned for his no-nonsense approach during a 17-year playing career, received his fair share of red cards over the years, including that sending off after a studs-up challenge on Alfie Haaland.
And the Irishman has since brought that brutal edge to the punditry world, delivering hard-hitting analysis on a weekly basis.
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Keane is considered one of football's last hardmen alongside Duncan Ferguson, who previously named his five toughest opponents which included former Liverpool centre-back Sami Hyypia and Arsenal legend Tony Adams.
But former Spurs and Southampton manager Harry Redknapp reckons he could take Keane in a fight. No, seriously.
Redknapp was making a guest appearance on the Soccer PM YouTube channel last year when he was asked which former Premier League players he could beat in the boxing ring.
The 78-year-old also backed himself to beat a number of former footballers in a fight, including Michael Owen, Gareth Southgate and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
"I don't think Roy Keane is as tough as he makes out. It's all bravado," Redknapp said with a straight face. "I love Roy Keane but I wouldn't mind fighting him, actually."
He also claimed he could secure a victory over Paul Scholes, but said he wouldn't want to spar with the former Manchester United midfielder. "I love him," he added. "What a footballer."
Alan Shearer has already commented on the idea of fighting Roy Keane
Former Newcastle United striker Shearer played down a potential boxing fight with Keane after they came to blows on several occasions throughout the late 90's and early 00's.
That being said, the Premier League's all-time top goalscorer said he "didn't like" the United midfielder when they both played, and referred back to a clash in September 2001 when the Irishman was sent off for throwing a punch at Shearer.
"I had loads of rucks with him and I wasn't the only one. It was a throw-in in the far corner where I stopped him taking an early throw," he said on the Match of the Day podcast.
"We were beating them at St. James' Park and he wanted to take a quick throw-in and he'd been at me all game as he normally was.
"It was about three of four minutes before the end of the game. I can't remember exactly what I said, I called him some sort of name."
Topics: Manchester United, Roy Keane, Harry Redknapp
Jack Kenmare