Keane blasts 'weak' stars

'WAGS' wear the trousers says Sunderland boss

By Peter O'Rourke   Last updated: 15th August 2007

Keane blasts 'weak' stars

Keane: On the attack

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Sunderland boss Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on modern-day footballers claiming they are 'weak' and are dictated by their wives and girlfriends.

The no-nonsense Irishman claims he has missed out on some players this summer because their partners did not want to move to Wearside.

Keane is dismayed at the attitude of players in the modern era and he believes they have not got their priorities right.

Dismayed

"Priorities have changed in footballers and they're being dictated to by their wives and girlfriends - there's no getting away from that," blasted Keane.

"This idea of the women running the show concerns me and worries me but it shouldn't because the players we're talking about are soft.

"I could name three or four big players now and clearly their wives are running their lives. They're stood there doing these photo shoots and they might say 'I'm not comfortable doing it'. Well, don't do it then.

"They're getting dragged into it because of their partners. These so-called big stars, the ones people are supposed to be looking up to, they're weak, they're soft.

"We had a player this summer who didn't even ring us back because his wife wanted to move to London; he didn't even have the courtesy to pick the phone up to us and shopping was mentioned.

"I can understand the attraction of London if you go to Arsenal, Chelsea, maybe Spurs, but there are players just going there because it's London and to me that's wrong, clubs with half the crowds and less attention. It's not a football move, it's a lifestyle move, and they're the type you don't want at your club anyway. It tells me the player is weak and his wife runs his life."

Priorities
The Manchester United legend admitted he came close to joining Juventus towards the end of his career and even then those people trying to persuade him to move tried to use the glamour of Italy to convince him.

Keane said: "You have to sign for a club for football reasons. A couple of years ago I nearly went to Juventus and people spoke to me about Turin saying it's this and it's that and that Milan would be nicer, and I said I'm not going for the bloody shops, I'm going because it's Juventus.

"Football must be your priority. You don't need to live in London or Manchester to be happy; you don't need to be surrounded by expensive shops or fancy cafes. What's your priority - your wife and her shopping or your football? Or money?

"If a player doesn't want to come to Sunderland because his wife wants to go shopping in London it's a sad state of affairs."

Comments (44)

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Scot Coulthard (Newcastle United fan) says...

Roy - that's not always true - not everyone likes shopping. But you mustn't say that about the WAGS - you may upset them. Stop being sexist!

Posted 11:18 3rd September 2007

Ronald Velden (Arsenal fan) says...

Family life is important in the psyche of any professional man. However, trivia such as 'shopping' should not be a major consideration. Many clubs look at the background of potential acquisitions which is just as important as their football ability.

Posted 11:10 19th August 2007

Paul W (Sunderland fan) says...

Spot on Keano...and you wonder why the England national team does so poorly.....you would never have seen Greavesy, Charlton or even likes of Gazza being dictated to by their wives as to where they place football for shopping reasons. Yes family is important...but is it football or shopping they want ? Too much money, too much management, to much glamour = killing any flair or natural footbal ability....we've had nothing since Gazza. Any falir or natural ability is knocked out of kids by these so called academies and so called celebrity. The best footballers learnt it on the streets and learn't it as a passion for the sport...not for the chance to be on the front of OK magazine. Its time people at the clubs and the agents rembered that...who cares what nightclubthey were at last night or what shop they were seen at...? too much money, too little passion for the game....doesn't look like it will change either.

Posted 04:20 16th August 2007

Joe Heathcote (Sunderland fan) says...

keano is correct. i think its pathetic that wags dont want to move if they will not be near the best designer shops. the football players are paying for their things so i think they should pick which club they go to.

Posted 21:17 15th August 2007

Jim Van oosterom (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Bizarre! Why get married? Keane is a fossil from the Stone Age of the male-female relationship which basically said that the man owns the woman. Hey, the House of Lords dropped that in 1939! If you get married you discuss, negotiate, compromise. It's about consideration and sensitivity. Why don't you draft Homer Simpson, Roy? And why am I even reacting to this? Stupid, stupid....

Posted 19:03 15th August 2007

Paul Scruffster (Arsenal fan) says...

Yes of course a player should consider the welfare of his family, but footballing reasons should be the paramount factor in their decision on whether to move to a club or not. It's not as though any professional footballer in this country has to choose which gang ridden sink estate to move his family into. The money and the over-exposure has bred a culture of smug arrogance amongst many players at the top level, and with that inevitably comes the vile vacuous WAGS and their self-publicity machines. Well done Keane for saying what everyone else in the game is too chicken to admit.

Posted 14:15 15th August 2007

Kumaresh Madhaven (Liverpool fan) says...

Spot on Keano!!!! It's a disgrace. These guys should be playing for the national netball league.

Posted 13:53 15th August 2007

Steve Affleck (Darlington fan) says...

Couldn't agree more with Keano's comments. As I've said for a long while now "Football is lost in show business"

Posted 13:39 15th August 2007

Abdul Aziz (Liverpool fan) says...

Does he mean to say your profession should come first over family?? I beg to differ. Both are first priorities. If a footballer or in any profession you can have the best of the both worlds(work and family) then why not? Keane are you close to your family?

Posted 13:27 15th August 2007

Mark Mc (Liverpool fan) says...

A sexist comment from a stereotypical crybaby - boo-hoo so he didn't get the players he wanted and now he blames the ladies. Ever heard of 'a better offer elsewhere' or how about this one; 'quality of life'... bet if his wife Teresa had put her foot down about Sunderland he'd be somewhere else right now...

Posted 13:20 15th August 2007

Scott Mcginley (Aston Villa fan) says...

What a true comment Mr Keane, as a Villa fan we ourselves suffer with this trait in footballers and their WAG's, bring back players that want to play and can remember when they started out and why they were in the game.

Posted 11:02 15th August 2007

Alan Fox (Birmingham City fan) says...

But isn't this true for many professions. I'm a semi-retired scientist and I always tried to work where the science was best. If you can get a good location as well that's great. For example I worked in California for 15 years but I also worked in Wolverhampton for 6. There is no doubt in my mind that partners are a big component in the location decision. After all they want that champagne lifestyle.

Posted 11:01 15th August 2007

Army Bolton says...

Spot on, Keane isn't my favourite bloke either but at least he has the guts to come out and say what the others are thinking. The times when a player would grow up dreaming of playing for his hometown club are long gone and have been replaced by softies who focus on their next flash car. Why do you think England can't compete on the world stage anymore?

Posted 10:50 15th August 2007

Mick Mcdermott says...

The days when you could ignore the wishes of your wife and family and do whatever you like are long over. A dinosaur type comment from a reformed thug.

Posted 10:50 15th August 2007

Darren Mallory (Hull City fan) says...

I think you should also look at it from another perspective. If the player does have wife / family then surely its a good idea that they actually move somewhere where the family may adapt and actually like. Regardless if the player is 100% committed and the best in the world if his mindset is not right he will not play to his true potential. I think in this instance Roy Keane has been a little short sighted in realising that yes footballers get a lot of money but they don't all play just for that. What makes footballers any different from anyone else? Priority number 1 should always be your family.

Posted 10:33 15th August 2007

Barry Streek (Manchester United fan) says...

As the author of Keano's book, Eamonn Dunphy put it on live television during an argument, 'Roy Keane is right, Roy Keane is right about everything'

Posted 10:26 15th August 2007

Okunniwa Lawrence (Chelsea fan) says...

Sincerely , Keane is absolutely right . These self acclaimed mega stars are being dictated to by their wives/girlfriends . The attraction that London offers is making most of these wives/girlfriends coerce their hubbys to go against their own will . This, to be frank, is not good for the development of the game .

Posted 09:57 15th August 2007

Kris Tanapakion (Liverpool fan) says...

ROY KEANE is a straight forward guy and honest, he says what he thinks and I personally agree with his comments, .... too much show off - All these footballers get LOTS of money so they need to concentrate on playing football and be professional, that¿s it.....

Posted 09:56 15th August 2007

Pete The greek says...

Absolutely right on - I'm a Westham fan and I bet the player Mr Keane was talking about has ended up with us!!! I am sick and tired of overpaid molley coddled so called professionals. With the money these players earn they should be Role models that shows all the best things in sport - hard work, discipline motivation and sportsmanship. I don't necessarily agree with everything Roy Keane says and does but his dedication is 100% and he is right.

Posted 09:47 15th August 2007

Steve Nugent (Leyton Orient fan) says...

At last a high profile well respected professional speaking out and not suprising that it is one of the most professional ex-players in the game. It is great to see that Keano is as no-noncense off the pitch as a manager as he was on the pitch as a player. Most of these WAG's and so called professional footballers are just posh and becs wannabee's anyway.... Next up will be Keano's take on the Agents. Take em all on Keano, bring back the sports priorities and passion in the 'professional footballer', as frustrated fans can only dream of playing the game for a living - do you think a fan would listen to the missus, most of us have long suffering WAG's of our own who put up with us dissapearing every Saturday to support our teams and therefore the 'professional's' WAGS shopping trips in the first place!!

Posted 09:46 15th August 2007
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