KEANE AND GIGGS SQUARE UP AGAIN
Keane and Giggs engage in different sideline styles, but who will stand test of time?
AS players, Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane were team-mates for 12 years at Manchester United; as pundits, they’ve shared an ITV studio on big match nights.
They clearly get on, too. At Euro 2016, Giggs joked how he had given Keane his Golf GTI for a week, and six months later he still hadn’t got it back.
The Cork man didn’t deny the story, but pointed how he had returned the car with a full tank.
They are in their mid-40s now and Giggs, you suspect, is where Keane desires to be, in charge of a team and calling the shots.
Keane became a gaffer as long ago as August 2006, when Giggs was 32 and still had 300 more appearances to make for United as he played until he was 40.
While the former winger started late enough in the managerial ranks, he has been in charge of Wales since January, while Keane has been riding shot-gun for Martin O’Neill, starting more fire than he’s extinguished, for five years. The Wales boss looks a natural fit in the media spotlight and talks the talk, too.
Last night, he was silky smooth in only his seventh pre-match press conference as a boss – excluding four games in interim charge at United in 2014.
It’s clear he learnt a lot from Alex Ferguson about dealing with the media, if lacking the salty gruffness of the Glaswegian.
Giggs holds the eye of his questioner and speaks softly, without emotion. He carefully tip-toes around any potential minefields, applying balm to any potentially inflammatory questions. Not that there are many grenades, for the Welsh media are in thrall to Giggs, even those who questioned his lack of commitment to friendly internationals as a player. His no-shows were a running joke back in his United days when he missed far more friendlies than Keane did for Ireland. Under Giggs, youth has been given its fling. At Cardiff last month, he started with four players under 22 and brought on two subs, aged 18 and 19. With so many senior players missing tonight, teenagers Harry Wilson and Tyler Roberts can expect involvement against Ireland with Wilson set to start.
Giggs got his chance as a teenager at United and works off the axiom that if players are good enough, then they are old enough. He also appreciates a few older heads about the place too, like Ashley Williams, Andy King and Joe Allen.
‘Experienced players have to help the younger ones through where you have to tough it out for 90 minutes,’ he said.
‘It’s always a balance with your team. Young players can inspire the older players, but the older ones have been there and done it and they can help the young guys tough it out.
‘We had young players coming through at United but the likes of (Steve) Bruce, (Bryan) Robson, (Brian) McClair and (Paul) Ince helped us along the way.
‘If they’re young and flying, leave them at it but if they’re having bad form or a bad patch in the game, the older guys can help. You can’t just throw them in.’
The Giggs approach differs to Keane who rounded up proven performers at Sunderland when he won the Championship in his first season as manager.
After that stellar breakthrough, Keano was touted as a potential successor to Fergie at Old Trafford, but the early shine was gradually eroded and replaced by ringrust when he lost his way among the Tractor Boys at Ipswich.
That was almost eight years ago and these days, the former United captain accepts if he’s going to get a look-in again, it will be at
Championship level, where games come thick and fast. Is that what Keane desires to return to?
Come tonight, when he shakes hands with his old United comrade before the Nations League kick-off, perhaps Keane will consider another option: that of Irish manager.
For he is in a position that may not come around again.
He has picked up a few observations about management from Martin O’Neill, knows the players, some of whom he won’t have to whip into shape, others who may need the odd barb or two.
When O’Neill steps down, his current assistant would be an obvious candidate, if he wanted.
While a Welsh riot tonight may bring that departure date forward, the FAI are sitting tight on their dream ticket, and the O’Neill-Keane axis is likely to stay in place until the end of Ireland’s Euro 2020 involvement.
By then, where will Wales be? Probably in a decent place, having qualified for their second successive finals, the first under Giggs.
They may even get there via the Nations League, as Giggs is intent on a strong finish to the competition where they have Ireland away and Denmark at home to come.
Giggs was a winner at United, and a hardy character too.
As a player, he was bred to go the distance and seems intent on doing just that in management also.
Like his old GTI, he won’t be running on empty for a while.