Zlatan a character fit for United, says Keane
Ireland assistant manager likens Swede to popular Red Devil Eric Cantona
IT took nearly half an hour before conversation turned to Zlatan Ibrahimovic – the Sweden striker would have no doubt been offended at the delay – but Roy Keane was ready. He was ready to endorse his proposed signing for Manchester United, ready to warn his Republic of Ireland players of the threat which lies in wait at the Stade de France today and ready, even, to welcome a comparison to his former teammate Eric Cantona.
Keane, it would appear, quite likes the outspoken, egotistical, strutting Scandinavian who carries the hopes of one nation more than any other player in France.
For as much as Ireland boss Martin O’Neill might protest otherwise, Sweden are as close to a one-man team as it gets.
There is an aura and an arrogance which accompanies such a reliance – “A major tournament without me is nothing to watch” he once said – but Keane has no issue with a player talking the talk if he can also walk the walk.
Jose Mourinho, the new Manchester United manager, is set to sign the 34-yearold when his participation at the finals is over, and Keane believes that is a smart move.
“Of course he is a good fit for United, he’s a good player,” said Keane, before drawing a likeness to Cantona. “They’re big characters, clearly. Whatever you say about Cantona, he was a popular lad and I get the impression Zlatan is the same.
“Whatever you hear from his teammates he seems to be a bit of a character, and you can see that in the way he plays. It’s good to see that, because there’s a lack of characters out there, and he certainly is that. On top of all that, he’s a very, very good player.”
It was in 2006 when, while working as a pundit at the World Cup in Germany, that O’Neill sought to kill the hype around the charismatic frontman. “Good grief, he is the most overrated player on the planet,” said the Ireland manager.
He was reminded of that put-down at Ireland’s Versailles training base this weekend and prickled as the words were relayed, before coming back: “That was in 2006, wasn’t it? That’s how many years, 10, a decade, in which someone is likely to improve.
“He may well have been the most overrated player in the game at the time but is certainly not now. Some players are allowed to improve in 10 years. I was put right (at the time), don’t worry about that, because I spoke to Johann Mjallby and Henrik Larsson (his former Celtic players) who told me regardless that he was a very fine player – and I was prepared to believe them.”
There is no doubting Ibrahimovic’s class this time around and Ireland certainly lack a player of his calibre. So much so, in fact, that some 250 miles away at Sweden’s base in Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic coast, their players were questioning the quality of the Ireland team.
Keane, informed by a Swedish journalist that their opponents were set to target a lack of pace in the Irish defence, was not impressed. “Oh did they?” he said with a smile-cum-grimace. “We’ll see. I think we’ve got some good players. Are you sure they weren’t talking about the Swedish centre halves? They’re not exactly really lightning either.”
Keane’s mood yesterday was sharp yet relaxed, in stark contrast to O’Neill, who bristled on Thursday when discussing the agreed two-year contract extension which will see him and Keane remain in charge for 2018 World Cup qualifying.
However, Keane, with ambitions to return to club management, admits that deal does not necessarily tie him to the national team until 2018. “My get-out clause is not £20 million, if you know what I mean,” he said. “I think if somebody wants to come and take me, there’s a chance they will.
“I’ve had opportunities when I’ve been in the job, but not enough for me to go, ‘Yeah, time for me to leave now’. The time’s not right yet.”
O’Neill has suggested that Keane could succeed him, but the former Sunderland and Ipswich boss wasn’t prepared to be led down that route.
“I’m not looking to succeed the manager because I obviously want the manager to stay on as long as possible. That means we’re being successful,” he said.
“The longer I’m not the Irish manager the better, because obviously we’re doing well. Obviously if we’re not successful, and the manager does move on, I’d like to think I’d be part of the problem.
“Do I think I’m capable of being a manager of Ireland? Of course I do. But I’m not looking at that right now.”
For now, however, it is all about stopping Ibrahimovic.
The genius that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic is obviously Sweden’s main threat but Ireland will also have to keep an eye out for Oscar Lewicki. Previously at Bayern Munich, a move to the Premier League has been mooted for the talented 23year-old Malmo central midfielder. – Daily Mail