ROY Keane is a proud family man.
While he may have intimidated rivals on the pitch as Manchester United captain in the 90s and 00s, and be as fierce a pundit there is on the box, he’s soft when it comes to his kids and grandkids.
Thanks to his Instagram account, the former Premier League hardman has given us a glimpse into his life.
From celebrating his daughters on their birthdays to enjoying dressing up as cartoon characters on grandad duty, SunSport looks at Keane’s family life.
And that includes a Premier League footballer who scored recently against his beloved Republic of Ireland.
His wife
Keane has been married to Theresa for over 20 years and they share five children together – Shannon, Caragh, Aidan, Leah and Alanna.
The pair met in 1992, when the midfielder was playing for Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough.
“I spotted a beautiful girl in a club in town. Her name was Theresa Doyle but she blanked me,” Keane once revealed of his encounter with the Nottingham-born beauty.
“She was in a steady relationship and didn’t seem at all impressed by Roy Keane, the great footballer. In fact, I think my reputation was as a downer for all kinds of reasons.
“From time to time we ran into each other around Nottingham. I knew some of her friends, who told me Theresa was a dentist’s assistant.
“Eventually, after her relationship broke up, she relented and we went out together. I was in love.”
Back in 2021, he celebrated her birthday by cheekily cutting off half of her image in an Instagram selfie.
He captioned the photo: “Happy birthday to my first wife x”
Successful daughters
Keane has five children with Theresa, including four daughters.
Caragh, 28, is the second oldest of their brood.
At the age of 25, Caragh was forced to turn down a “dream teaching position” after being diagnosed with lupus – a chronic autoimmune condition that results in severe inflammation.
Caragh was told she may need to undergo chemotherapy after developing extreme joint pains and blisters.
But, after researching the linked between gut health and inflammation, she changed to a healthy diet.
And three years later, with her lupus conditions now a thing of the past, Caragh has released a cereal that encourages gut health and avoids processed ingredients.
Dad Keane has even been promoting the snack, gifting it to colleagues including Ian Wright and Gary Neville on the Stick to Football podcast.
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He said: “My daughter Caragh has got a company with health stuff. I am proud, very proud.”
Keane’s youngest daughter, Alanna – who he affectionally calls No5 on social media – has branched out on her own.
She works as a skin specialist and laser therapist at the Little Cheshire Clinic in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.
Only son Aiden Keane prefers to keep a low-profile, as does Shannon his eldest offspring.
Footballer in the family
It was bound to happen.
Daughter “No4”, Leah has fallen for the charms of a Premier League footballer.
She has dated Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who recently made his debut for England against Republic of Ireland, for around five years, according to reports.
The pair recently got engaged, and Harwood-Bellis celebrated with a goal on his Three Lions debut.
ITV host Mark Pougatch joked to Keane in the studio that the Southampton defender will be bringing his goal up over Christmas dinner, especially because it took the Irishman three years to score for Boys in Green.
But Keane Sr, who may have already started writing his father-of-the-bride speech ahead of their upcoming wedding, immediately quipped back: “Bittersweet for me, this.
“It [the wedding] is not done and dusted yet!
“Things can change very quickly in the Keane household.
“No, he’s a really nice kid, his family have done a good job.
“It’s nice for him, it’s good for him, he’s a bit of a goal threat.”
Doting grandad
For all his toughness and talk, Keane can be a big softy.
And he will do anything for his grandchildren, who absolutely dotes on and shares family time on his brilliant Instagram account.
Including dressing up as animated puppy Chase from popular kids’ cartoon Paw Patrol.
Captioning the snap of him in a giant dog costume, Keane quipped he’s only doing it to pay for his pool heating bill.
Inside Keane and Haaland’s feud
Roy Keane’s feud with the Haaland family seemingly began all the way back in 2001 when Keane hit Alfe Inge Haaland, Erling’s father, with a horror tackle.
After a barren spell for Haaland earlier this season, Keane said: “The levels of his general play are so poor. He has to improve that. He is almost like a League Two player.”
Keane upgraded him to a “Championship” player after Haaland scored against Nottingham Forest.
After scoring four against Wolves, Haaland said: “I don’t care about that man.”
But Keane highlighted Haaland’s behaviour when he was subbed off, saying he behaved “like a spoiled brat”.
Sky Sports presenter Dave Jones caught the wrath of Keane’s death stare when he dared to question that label considering his quartet of goals.
He joked: “Available for party hire. I don’t like parties or kids but the pool needs heating.”
Keane also joked about his granddaughter idolising him, and took a grandson to see Sing 2 in the cinema.
Brilliant player, great pundit, better family man.
