Former Manchester United attacker Phil Marsh has revealed the day he risked the ire of captain Roy Keane – but lived to tell the tale.
Marsh shared a dressing room with Keane in the early 2000s, when the former was breaking through as a youngster.
“Roy was a massive character, captain of the club who led by example on and off the field,” he said exclusively on this week’s Talking Devils podcast with Keane Franey. “I got to know Roy quite well after my crash, he came and visited me in hospital and was unbelievable. I’ve only got positive things to say about him.”
“I remember the first time I played with him, for the reserves. He was coming back from injury and I was on the right hand side of the midfield… I hit a long pass, a diagonal Hollywood ball I suppose, but it was a great pass. I was made up with myself and I looked over at Keano who was piercing a hole through me. I was wondering what I’d done wrong! At half-time he pulled me aside and told the passes were too risky. It was a little test and challenge, to accept he was right and he was trying to give me guidance on what would be expected in the first team.”
Phil recalled an incredible story, when he picked up Keane’s wage slip by mistake – and feared for the worst when he realised Keane knew.
“When you got your wages as a reserve, Kath on reception would give you your wage slip on the way out,” Phil recalled. “This one day we were having a little chat, she gave me the slip and I walked out to my car. I didn’t always open the slip but that day I did, to see if I had any bonuses. As I opened it and peeled back I realised straight away it wasn’t mine because the bonuses were far too high for what I’d normally get. I looked at the pay and it was much more than mine. I was flustered anyway and then when I saw whose it was… Roy’s. You can imagine my heart sunk. Of anyone’s, I’ve opened Keano’s.
“I got out of my car and started walking back – Carrington had big glass windows, and Roy was stood with Kath, waiting for his wage slip. I just had to interrupt and said, “Kath I think you’ve given me the wrong wage slip.” “It’s not Roy’s, is it?” she replied. She apologised and said it was her fault. I was stood bricking it while she was looking for mine – Keano just stood and waited. As I turned with my slip Keane just put his arm around me and walked out the door with me. “Listen,” he said, “did you have a look?”
“I said I had a little look but realised it wasn’t mine. He laughed and said, “At the end of the day it’s not what I’m about. I’m here for success and winning trophies. If you keep playing the way you are you’ll be on that kind of money soon.” He sent me on my way. I went to my car and must have sat there for fifteen minutes. That could have gone one of two ways – thankfully for me he took it amazingly.”
You can watch the show here :