Cisse: Playing for Keano was just smiles better
DJIBRIL Cisse has recounted a brilliant story about former Sunderland manager Roy Keane as he revealed he would have joined the Black Cats on a permanent basis, writes SEAN MCCORMICK.
Keane remains one of the most intimidating characters to grace the English game, both as a player where he captained Manchester United to numerous honours and as a manager at Sunderland and Ipswich.
The former Republic of Ireland international guided the Wearsiders to the Championship title in 2006/07, his first season in management, and then kept them in the Premier League in 2007/08.
Ahead of the 2008/09 season Keane turned to Cisse, who had fallen out of favour at Marseille, on a season-long loan deal.
The former Liverpool and France forward scored 11 goals in 38 appearances for Sunderland and quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite with a goal in a 2-1 Wear-tyne derby win over Newcastle.
He shared a positive relationship with Keane, too, but that did not stop him getting on his wrong side on occasion – as he hilariously recounted.
Cisse said: “I remember one game – at half-time we came in and I had not played great. Not that bad but I had not been myself. Roy walked in and went for me. Oh my God, he was screaming at me – really crazy, loud.
“It took me back 15 years when Guy Roux used to shout at me as a kid.
“I realised what Roy was doing. Like Guy, he was trying to get me going. So, I lifted my head up and smiled, knowing what he was doing.
“Well, Roy just got even angrier. ‘What the f**k are you smiling for?!’
“Anyway, after 10 minutes I scored and sprinted over to him on the touchline. ‘Well done, boss. I know exactly what you were doing!’
“He looked at me like I was mad but I did love the guy.”
Cisse’s goals helped Sunderland achieve Premier League survival at the expense of rivals Newcastle in 2009 but that was where his brief spell on Wearside ended.
The 38-year-old joined Greek giants Panathinaikos on a permanent basis and Sunderland moved to make Tottenham forward Darren Bent their hitman for the 2009/10 campaign.
However, Cisse admits he wishes he made his move to the Stadium of Light a permanent stay.
He added: “Roy wanted to sign me, the fans seemed to like me – I still get messages saying I should have stayed there – and I would have signed for sure, but in the end I think the price Marseille wanted was too high.”