Forgotten Roy Keane Photo Resurfaces of Incident That 'Lost Him Dressing Room'

An old photo of Roy Keane has resurfaced from an incident that he joked 'lost him the dressing room' at Sunderland.

After retiring from playing in 2006, Manchester United legend Keane decided to pursue a career in management and in August 2006, he was appointed as Sunderland boss.

His first season in the North-East was a success, with Keane winning the Championship's manager of the year award as he guided the Black Cats to the league title.

In the Premier League, Keane led Sunderland to a respectable 15th-place finish in his first season.

But he resigned in December 2008, in a move that was reportedly celebrated by the Sunderland squad.

The Irishman is known for his straight talking, no-nonsense style and Keane brought the same approach into his management career.

One pre-season incident in particular showed that side of him perfectly.

After goalkeeper Craig Gordon conceded a free-kick in a pre-season game, Keane went in goal and promised that if any player scored past him, he would give them £1,000, while those who missed owed him £100.

Ultimately, no one scored, leaving Keane several hundred pounds richer.

Speaking on Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Keane said: “I made £800-£900, but I probably lost the dressing room!

"We were at pre-season, playing down at the Algarve somewhere, and Craig’s in goal, there was a free-kick, about 40-yards out, and he gets beaten.

"He had a wall out, I said, ‘Why are you having a wall for? He’s miles away!’ I’m trying to have a bit of banter, a bit of fun, it’s pre-season.

"I said, ‘I’ll go in goal tomorrow lads, if any of you want to take a free-kick against me, go 20-yards out, I’m going to have no wall’.

"And I said, ‘If any of you score, I’ll give you £1,000’.

"A few missed and gave me £100."

"I made £800 but probably lost the dressing room!" 🤣

Imagine Roy Keane as the keeper! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/m6oH2SygkG

— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) August 4, 2024

Keane, who later managed Ipswich Town added: “So, the next day, it was a warm down, I said, ‘Lads, if any of you want to try it’.

"So I’m thinking one or two might try it, eight or nine started walking down, so I get into goal and I had no wall, 20 yards out, so I’m thinking I could be £9,000 down here.

"You’re thinking one or two will definitely score if they hit the target, and hit it properly, I won’t be able to get near it."

Now, Sunderland's official X account responded to a post from The Overlap which included Keane discussing his goalkeeping antics.

They wrote: "You don't need to imagine anymore" and attached a photo of Keane getting down to his left to make a save.