ROY KEANE won seven Premier League titles and four FA
Cups at Manchester United but he cannot remember
them.
Despite helping United dominate in the 1990s, Keano does not have a
clue in which year he won what.
All he can remember are the crushing memories of defeat which have
become the driving force behind his battle to keep Sunderland
up.
Whether it was seeing Arsenal pip him to the title or being turned
inside out as a 12-year-old playing in a boys final, the will to
put it right burns deep.
And there is plenty the Mackems boss needs to put right at the
moment especially with Alex Ferguson taking on his old United
skipper and sparring partner today with the Black Cats in the drop
zone.
Sunderland are in trouble but Keane remains calm.
He said: I moved on from success as a player very quickly, but the
defeats were always the ones that kept you going.
You dont look back and think of wins. I read and hear about
players talking about when they won titles and cups, but I havent
got a clue what year I won anything.
But I do know when I got relegated. I do know when I lost cup
finals. I do know when I lost leagues.
Good
stuff
I do know when I lost to Clyde in the cup. I do know when I lost
to Luton in the league cup.
I remember all those things, but I dont remember the good stuff.
Im motivated by those defeats.
So you can say that Im as motivated now as at any time in my
life, without a doubt.
The hatred of defeat goes back to when I was a kid, definitely. We
won most things then, too. But even from back then, its the
defeats I remember.
We lost a big cup final to Belvedere 3-2 and I remember it as if
it was yesterday.
We were 2-0 up and the lad I was marking scored a hat-trick.
He ended up at Luton, a left-back. His name was Ken Gillard.
Did people realise I was upset? Well, we were only 11 or 12,
werent exactly hitting the town. It was just going to the shop and
getting a can of Coke and a Mars bar.
I moved house the other day and found one or two medals in boxes.
But they were losers medals. Ive lost a few but the winners
medals are in the bank somewhere.
I remember Gary Neville talking about winning leagues and Gary
is a good lad.
But I dont remember when I won what. I suppose we won most
years!
They probably thought I was miserable but then they would probably
say the same about me now. There are three of four lads I keep in
touch with and theyd still say the same. They know I dont like
losing.
If they come over for a game and we lose, then they wont meet up
with me. Theyll consciously keep away and Ive known them since
I was nine or 10.
I dont know what it is about me. Im from a big sporting family.
Im from Cork which is the rebel county in Ireland a lot of
history there, very much a sporting environment.
I did a lot of boxing and defeat just wasnt accepted.
Keanes legendary Old Trafford career will never be forgotten but
the Irishman admits he is feeling more like a Mackem every
day.
Working with Fergie and Brian Clough at Forest helped him.
He said: I think you take defeat 100 times more personally as a
manager. You are picking the team.
As much as I could get upset as a player and could have a go at
other players and staff, now the responsibility comes back on to me
as a manager.
I enjoy it, thats why I started doing it. Youve got to have the
good and bad stuff.
I do think about Fergie or Clough and what they would have done.
Maybe some of that DNA has passed on.
You look at why you make certain decisions 99 times out of 100
it will be my gut feeling.
I dont speak to Fergie that much now. What have I got to speak to
him about?
Managers are busy. I dont speak to Mick McCarthy or Brian Kerr,
my managers in Ireland.
Will we have a glass of wine afterwards? Well, I dont drink but
well see.
I loved my time at United but the kids will be wanting Sunderland
to win. They wouldnt want to see their dad unhappy.