Kenna: Keane was best of his generation
Jeff Kenna has hailed former Republic of Ireland team-mate Roy Keane one of the “greatest midfielders of his generation”.
Former Manchester United skipper Keane has been forced to hang up his boots a year before his Celtic contract was due to expire.
The 34-year-old has been struggling with injuries for some time but the news has prompted much praise among those who played with him.
Kenna: “It’s not that big a shock because of the injury problems he has had over the last couple of years.
“Keane was a great player and is a great man and he wouldn’t have taken this decision lightly. But time waits for no man, whether you are a footballer or otherwise, and although it is a little bit of a surprise when it comes, it does happen to all of us which is a very sad time.
"But for him it is even more so because he was an absolutely phenomenal player and he has got to be one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
“In world football he stands out as an absolutely phenomenal player and the trophies he won only emphasise that fact.”
Keane earned a fearsome reputation for being a hard man and famously stormed out the Irish squad at the World Cup four years ago.
But former Blackburn full-back Kenna has nothing but admiration for the midfielder on and off the park.
“He would often get the wrong headlines but you couldn’t meet a nicer guy off the park,” added Kenna.
“Everyone knows how tough he was on the field and never pulled out of anything but he would do anything for his team-mates. When we met up we would always have a chat and a laugh and he was just one of lads.”
Keane helped United to the treble in 1999 having known he would miss the Champions League final through suspension.
Kenna believes that drive will stand him in good stead in management.
He concluded: “I don’t see why he can’t become a top manager as well. It’s obviously not as easy as people think as past records have shown. Top players have tried and failed to become top managers.
“But from the players’ point of view he would command their respect because of who he is and what he did at the top level.
“I would have thought he will go on to have a distinguished career in top-level management. I wouldn't have thought we have seen the last of Roy Keane.”
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