Roy Keane became a Nottingham Forest legend during his three-year spell at the club, but the Irishman always preferred one other Premier League side.
Signed in 1990 by the iconic Brian Clough, Keane became a Forest legend in his three years at the City Ground before moving to Manchester United for what was then the British record transfer fee.
Remarkably, Keane was told he was too small to play football when he was just a boy in Ireland, but his incredible success at Forest and then United certainly proved that theory incorrect.
Whatever the success, though, the Irish midfielder always gave credit to Forest and Clough, with Keane admitting Clough made the transition to English football easier.
Since retiring, it has seemed that Keane has kept an interest in his former club, most recently apparent when Keane criticised Jota Silva’s performance vs Exeter City in the FA Cup on Tuesday evening.
Despite this, though, Keane has revealed that Forest are not his preferred team in the Premier League, with that title going to a club he never actually played for.
Roy Keane admits he has always had a soft spot for Tottenham
His fiery opinions have kept Keane in the limelight since his retirement, mostly through being a pundit for various broadcasters.
However, it is his regular role on the Stick to Football podcast where fans have gotten to know the character behind the battling midfielder, with his latest admission about Tottenham coming as some suprise for Forest fans.
Keane said: “When I played for Rockmount, one of my team-mate’s fathers used to bring me to training and he supported Tottenham. That’s where it started, I liked their players, the likes of Glenn Hoddle and Clive Allen. But after I’d come back from trial at Nottingham Forest, Spurs offered me a trial.
“I turned it down because Forest had been to good me, I liked the club and felt some loyalty to them. I had a soft spot for Spurs, and still do.”
Whilst the loyalty to Forest is a nice touch by Keane, his place in Forest history is perhaps more significant than the sentiment he is suggesting reflects.
It’s not just that Keane is a fan of Tottenham, though as he continued on the podcast episode to discuss his feelings towards both Forest and United, the two teams that adore him.
Roy Keane doesn’t consider himself a Nottingham Forest fan
Expanding on his feelings towards the club’s he played for, Keane said: “I don’t have that [affinity] with the clubs I’ve played for. I don’t support Manchester United, absolutely not.
“I don’t support Nottingham Forest. Now, you feel you have more of an insight with how it works at the club and the expectations, but I wouldn’t say that I’m a fan – their results don’t make or break my weekend.
“I wouldn’t go home going, ‘Get in there, that was a great win.’ I’d be looking at it in a professional way. It wouldn’t spoil my weekend if they lost. It’s the same for Forest or Celtic, the clubs I was involved in, absolutely not.”
Whilst he may not be going to watch Nuno Espirito Santo’s side every week, it seems surprising that Keane would make this distinction given how positively he has spoken about the club.
Keane even backed Chris Wood before he found form at Forest which indicated that he payed special attention to the Forest squad beyond what other pundits thought. The Irishman will always be a Forest legend, but it will sting a little fot fans to hear his feelings towards the club.
