Aston Villa legend explains why Roy Keane left club

Roy Keane’s departure from Manchester United in 2005 sent shockwaves through the club with its unexpected nature confusing some supporters.

He had been captain of the first-team, won countless trophies including the Premier League and Champions League, and had won Player of the Year from the club on two occasions.

He would go onto join Celtic where he made a handful of appearances before he announced his retirement on medical grounds.

Following his retirement, he entered the world of football management with Keane having spells at Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Aston Villa, and Ireland.

His departure from Aston Villa, where he had been an assistant coach, just five months after joining the Villans came to the surprise of some fans.

Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor has now opened up on the departure with him recalling the events that led up to Keane leaving.

Speaking on the In The Mixer podcast, Agbonlahor explained: “We done this training session where the whole team’s doing a crossing and shooting session but (it’s) six or seven passes before you get like a cross in a shot.

“The standard wasn’t great, but you’re taking one shot every 10 minutes, so the players are getting cold.

“Gaffer Paul Lambert pulls it in and says alright guys, not good enough. Me as one of the captains there says, ‘Gaffer, everyone’s getting cold.’

“Roy Keane was like, ‘Oh, you’re getting cold. Are you wanting to warm up?’ Being sarcastic. So at that time, the players had enough of him. I just said, like, ‘Roy, I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to the manager’.

“He gives me them eyes, them angry eyes. He’s glaring at me, and then the gaffer’s gone, ‘blah blah blah’. And then the next day he left.

“He left Villa because I think he probably thought, ‘These players are going to make me do something I regret.’ He was gone, but for me it was more like, ‘You’re not going to bully me’.”

Gabby Agbonlahor’s description, arguably, gives supporters a big indicator into his departure. Villa would not be Keane’s last coaching job with him continuing as Ireland assistant coach until June 2016.

His fiery nature has been on display during his football punditry career, however, with him criticizing Bruno Fernandes after the Manchester United captain called him a liar.