Derby County captain Conor Hourihane has candidly opened up on how Roy Keane changed his life after he played under the Manchester United legend.
Roy Keane’s last managerial spell came to an end in 2011 after he was sacked by Ipswich Town, with the Irishman enduring an ill-fated run at the club.
The 52-year-old Sky Sports pundit had wasted no time in entering coaching after his legendary playing career came to an end at Scottish side Celtic in 2006.
Keane, who is regarded as one of the best captains of all time, took charge of Sunderland in 2006 and lifted a Championship title at the Stadium of Light.
But the Manchester United legend resigned as manager of the Black Cats in 2008 after 27 months in charge, with Keane later taking up his post at Ipswich Town.
Following his spell at Ipswich, former United captain Keane went on to serve as an assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
The Irish hardman has since become a leading figure in punditry for Sky Sports, despite hinting that he would be open to a blockbuster return to managing.
Conor Hourihane, who sees Keane as his idol, was at the Sunderland youth academy while the United legend was the manager at the Stadium of Light.
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Hourihane on Keane’s ‘soft spot’
Conor Hourihane left Sunderland in 2010 without making a senior appearance for the club to sign for Ipswich Town, as he linked up again with Roy Keane.
The 33-year-old midfielder failed to make an appearance for Ipswich before his exit in 2011, but Hourihane couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Keane again.
Hourihane was born in Bandon, which is part of County Cork, and Keane has always had a “soft spot” for people from the city of Cork in the Republic of Ireland.
Keane, who was born in Cork, has taken pride in his roots and holds a strong bond with people from the area, including fellow Manchester United legend Denis Irwin.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s EFL All Access podcast, Hourihane opened up about his admiration for Keane and how he offered him his “first chance” in England.
“Roy gave me my first chance over in England at the age of 16 when he signed me at Sunderland,” he said.
“You know, he’s from where I live back home in Cork, so I’ve always got great things to say and for him to give me an opportunity at club level and to meet him down the road at international level.
“I’ll always be thankful for him. An incredible man, who’s always looked out for me being from the same place, he always has that soft spot for Cork people, so he’s helped me along.”
Hourihane praises Keane’s ‘unbelievable career’
Despite not making a senior appearance at Sunderland or Ipswich under Keane, Hourihane would cross paths with the United legend again in his career.
The former Aston Villa player received his senior international debut under Martin O’Neill in 2017, with Keane serving as assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland.
Hourihane insisted that former United midfielder Keane is “fascinating” and that it was an “unbelievable experience” to work closely with him in his career.
“So, it has been an unbelievable experience to be close with him in certain situations, to see how he goes about his business as a coach and as a man and how he handles himself,” he said.
“It’s been fascinating really, so I class myself to be really lucky that thousands and thousands of people would love to be a fly on the wall in certain situations that I’ve been involved in with Roy.
“He’s a fascinating guy and he had an unbelievable career, so for me, to be able to take bits from him, it’s stood me in good stead over the course of my career for sure.”