Roy Keane admits he was ‘absolutely disgraceful’ with his drinking habits during Man Utd career

ROY KEANE has confessed to an “absolutely disgraceful” drinking habit during his golden years at Manchester United.

The legendary hardman says he’d regularly neck pints four days in a row if there was no midweek match.

Keane won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League in United’s famous 1998-99 Treble season.

But he believes the football world might be shocked to hear of some of his behaviour while at Old Trafford from 1993-2005.

The ex-Republic of Ireland midfielder, 52, told Sky Bet’s Stick to Football podcast: “People used to say I was a good pro..  Some of my stuff was absolutely disgraceful.”

Keane went on to detail his drinking routine if Alex Ferguson’s men knew they were out of action during the week.

He said: “Definitely on Saturday. Definitely on Sunday.

“Many times I’d go Saturday after the game, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Pints or whatever it was I was drinking at the time.”

But he stressed: “I’d draw the line on Wednesday, to be fair.”

Then-United team-mate Gary Neville reckons many top-flight players were habitual drinkers in that era.

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He told Keane during the podcast chat with Ian Wright and Jill Scott: “The reason you got away with it was because a lot of the players in the other teams were doing the same.

“As long as they could all drink 10 pints they were all at the same fitness level.”

Keane suggested his relative youth, plus playing in such a good team, helped him thrive despite drinking.

But when Neville outlined his own all-the-same theory, Keano nodded and said: “Probably.”

Ex-England defender Nev also explained how football’s off-the-pitch standards were promptly transformed. 

He said: “I always look at that period pre 1995-96 as all players were doing the same thing.

“1996-2000 professionalised a lot in that period – nutritionists came in etc.”

Keane agreed but joked: “I carried on for a while – they’re not changing me!”

Meanwhile, Neville revealed he once had a fit and fainted while covering an England game at Euro 2020.

Keane’s career faded dramatically after he left Old Trafford following a fall-out with Fergie.

And after seven months at Celtic – the club he supported as a kid – the former Nottingham Forest hero quit playing on medical advice in June 2006.

Two-year spells as manager at Sunderland and Ipswich followed before he became a Sky Sports pundit known for his frank opinions.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk