ROY KEANE has been named Pundit of the Year at the Sports Journalists’ Association Awards.
The Manchester United legend won the gong just hours after going live on ITV for England’s game with Latvia.
Keane joined colleagues Mark Pougatch and Ian Wright to discuss the Three Lions’ 3-0 win at the Home of Football on Monday.
The 53-year-old – who also appears on Sky Sports – is known for his fiery on-air punditry and refusal to back down from a debate.
SJA’s Pundit of the Year award was chosen this year by a members’ vote.
Wright, Ally McCoist, Emma Hayes, Michael Holding, Gary Neville and Osi Umenyiora have previously taken the crown.
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Keane won the vote to see off competition from nine other pundits including talkSPORT’s McCoist and Sky’s Jamie Carragher.
One fan wrote on X in response: “Congratulations. One of the few pundits left who tells honest opinions based on fact, and doesn’t sugarcoat things.”
Another said: “One of the very few proper ones left now.”
While a third joked: “That’s his job you don’t congratulate the postman for putting letters through the postbox.”
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And a fourth added: “One of the few worth listening to. Well deserved, and I’m a Leeds fan.”
Kelly Cates, who presents Premier League football for Sky and will soon host Match of the Day, claimed the prize for Presenter of the Year.
While the BBC’s Chris Jones won the award for Best Commentator.
Keane was in typically combative form as he analysed Thomas Tuchel’s first two games as England boss on Monday night.
The Three Lions were in cruise control at Wembley as they saw off Albania on Friday and Latvia four days later.
But Keane wasn’t impressed with what he saw – and believes England should have been more ruthless.
The 53-year-old said: “If this was a school report, you’d give him a would be a C+.
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“I think there’s a lot more to come from him. I think the two games on paper were very easy.
“It’s a great start for the manager, but you knew he was going to get the two victories, just look at the 27 shots tonight.
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“There’s loads of bits to improve. The end product wasn’t that great but at least the subs came on and had an effect on the game.
“But I thought it was OK. It was OK.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
