We all know what Roy Keane is like; he’s either really angry, or really funny, with no real middle ground. Turns out, one former Sunderland man found this out the hard way.
Roy Keane spent a couple of years on Wearside as Sunderland manager, and his time there was tumultuous, as we’ve come to expect from the Man Utd legend.
There were plenty of positives during his time at Sunderland, but relations between Keane and his players worsened over time; so much so that some sections of the squad reportedly celebrated when he resigned.
But, love him or hate him, there’s no denying Keane is an entertainer, and he took a golden opportunity to poke fun at one potential signing during contract discussions in 2006.
Roy Keane couldn’t resist winding Ross Wallace up
Speaking on the Under the Cosh podcast, former Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, and Celtic man Ross Wallace opened up about his move to the Mackems and revealed how then-manager Keane decided to humiliate him as they sat down to negotiate a contract.
Wallace said: “We went and met – Roy was staying at the Ramside hotel – but I think he had a farmhouse right at the back of it.
“So you’ve got me, my agent and obviously Roy and Tony Loughlan, the first team coach. He’s got three chairs and I’m like [arms outstretched]. So my agent has sat down, Roy and Tony.
“So then Keane’s like ‘Ah, sorry Ross, I’ll get you a chair.’ He goes through to the kitchen and brings through a highchair. It was just pure straight face, he just carries it through and then he tries to lift me into it. He picks me up and he’s trying to put me in it!”
Well, that’s one way to break the ice before talking money. Suffice to say, it didn’t deter Wallace, who joined the Sunderland squad that summer.
- READ MORE: Former Sunderland captain once said why ‘furious’ Roy Keane could have been a ‘top-class manager’
Ross Wallace achieved great things with Sunderland
Wallace would go on to make 55 appearances for the Black Cats, scoring eight goals and adding six assists. He also went on to lift the Championship title with the Mackems in his first and Keane’s first season.
He eventually moved on to Preston North End, but not before playing in the Premier League under Keane and helping Sunderland to a fairly respectable 15th placed finish in 2007/08.
Wallace did get in Keane’s bad books at one point, though, after picking up a couple of red cards in one season.
Discussing the matter (via Sky Sports) at the time, Keane said: “I was okay with him [after the red card]. Obviously he is young and it will be a learning experience for him.
“He set himself up with his first booking for dissent. I wouldn’t be too harsh with him for the second one. But the first one he has done it before, he’s done it at Derby.
“He’s the one who’s going to suffer. If someone comes into the team and does well, he won’t get back in the team, so he will have to deal with that.”
Wallace gave as good as he got, though, and was just as much of a character as Keane. So, we’re sure the high chair incident, and any hairdryer treatment he may have received, just washed right over the little winger.