“He’s too harsh on players.”
Former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor has warned the Republic of Ireland not to appoint Roy Keane as their manager to replace Stephen Kenny.
Agbonlahor played for Villa for his whole career spanning from 2005 to 2018, apart from some loan spells at the beginning, and therefor was still around when Keane was the assistant manager at the club under Paul Lambert.
The talkSPORT pundit never saw eye to eye with the Irishman as they have publicly had a pop at each other in the past, but now with the vancant Ireland job up for grabs. Keane’s name is naturally linked with the role.
Agbonlahor warns the FAI to stay clear however, and thinks that it could be a recipe for disaster.
“I don’t see him becoming Ireland manager”, Agbonlahor told takSPORT.
“When I was with him at Aston Villa, his style of management now, it wouldn’t work with the players of this day and age.
“They wouldn’t be able to handle it. He’s too harsh on players, so I don’t think it would happen.”
The ex Premier League striker made the point that players from this generation don’t respond as well to the ‘hair dryer’ treatment anymore, and that a much more measured approach needs to be taken.
Keane famously has a temper, and wouldn’t be afraid to make blunt, sharp remarks to his players, and he famously used to kick over the tactics board when he was managing Sunderland.
“Players are different now to 15 or 20 years ago when they could handle the aggressive approach from a coach and a manager.
“Roy Keane would be that manager.”
Steve Bruce, Gus Poyet, and Neil Lennon are all also in the running for the role, but Keane is one of the few Irishmen whose name is among the list of contenders and that might sway in his favour.
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