Roy Keane is one of the most feared characters in English football history, and one of the hardest footballers the UK has ever seen. However, the Irishman wasn’t too happy when a three-cap England international stood up to him in training.

During his time as Manchester United captain, he ruled a dressing room full of world-class stars and massive personalities by fear. He was even more than happy to get into a scrap with anyone who got on his wrong side. Just ask Peter Schmeichel.

He then walked into any club, as a player or coach, with a reputation as someone you didn’t want to mess with. However, one man was brave enough to speak his mind to Keane and even won the war.

Roy Keane’s Changing Room “Tantrum” at Joe Cole

Gabby Agbonlahor has been speaking about his own experience with Keane, a man whose reputation as a player preceded him when he arrived at Aston Villa, and whose time at the club ended in a fashion that few who were present will forget.

Agbonlahor, speaking on the All Out Football Podcast, recalled the excitement that swept through the Villa dressing room when news broke that a genuine Premier League legend was joining as assistant to then-manager, Paul Lambert. The name alone carried weight. However, a dressing down of England icon Joe Cole didn’t go down well with the players, and Keane never recovered.

“I saw Joe Cole as like a legend of the Premier League era, in his later years at Aston Villa,” Agbonlahor said. “And he had the flu I think before this game, and probably didn’t have the best game by his standards, older, of course. And after the game, he just went in on him.”

Keane’s response to Cole’s performance was to pick up a can of Red Bull and hurl it into the team showers, screaming that “Red Bull doesn’t work.” Agbonlahor, watching on, found himself thinking one thing:

It was a step too far in Agbonlahor’s book, a man of Cole’s stature and standing in the game being subjected to what Agbonlahor described plainly as a “tantrum.” Keane’s inability to read the room and lack of understanding of the dynamics of a dressing room he’d not long walked into were already becoming apparent.

Training Ground Confrontation Ended Keane’s Villa Stint

The moment that effectively brought Keane’s short stint at Villa to an end came during a bitterly cold training session. The players had been asked to carry out a crossing drill in freezing conditions, with many standing around idle and growing increasingly frustrated at their lack of activity.

Agbonlahor, despite not being captain at the time, was one of the senior figures in the squad, and he decided to take the issue directly to Lambert: “’Gaffer, everyone’s getting cold,’” he said. Keane sarcastically cut in: “’Oh, you’re getting cold are you?’”

The next day, Keane was gone, after just five months.

Agbonlahor also spoke of Keane’s attempts to ‘bully’ other players, singling out Fabian Delph for missing the target during a shooting drill. Delph, someone who’s never been backwards in coming forwards, was happy to bite back, giving as much in return as he got himself: “I’m not trying to miss the target, am I?”

Keane, Agbonlahor suggests, “couldn’t handle that someone stuck up to him.”

His conclusion was quite damning. Keane’s standards and style as a player simply didn’t translate into the modern game, and his methods alienated players rather than inspiring them.

And should their paths cross again? Agbonlahor didn’t hold back, he’d simply walk straight past him without a word.

When speaking exclusively to GIVEMESPORT just days after his stunning, competitive performance against boxing‘s pound-for-pound staple, Oleksandr Usyk, the kickboxing icon, Rico Verhoeven, made one thing clear — he’s not letting the controversial result on Saturday, the 23rd of May derail his plans for the sport.Rico made his intentions clear. He wants to continue boxing providing he is presented with big names, and big fights, only.It is, arguably, what he deserves considering how many in boxing underestimated his abilities heading into the Riyadh Season event at the Pyramids of Giza, earlier this month. Though the judges saw a close bout on paper, in truth, Verhoeven would be forgiven for feeling hard done by as the Dutchman appeared to perform better than more established heavyweight boxers Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, or Daniel Dubois had done in their six combined challenges of the champion. The sport’s financier, Turki Alalshikh, even said he had Verhoeven “four rounds” ahead at the time of the 11th round stoppage.

Rico Verhoeven Shares Oleksandr Usyk Rematch Update

Verhoeven confirmed that there is no rematch clause that mandates a second fight between himself and Usyk, but is hopeful of another crack at the champion, if not an equally significant showdown with other fighters in the sport.

“I’m here to stay in boxing, so let’s keep this going as long as we still can,” Verhoeven declared, when asked whether he’d return to kickboxing, or remain in the ‘sweet science’ despite a somewhat unfair record of one win against one loss.”I’m open,” he added, “[but] only for the big fights.”Considering Alalshikh’s interest in a rematch, it is, perhaps, a reasonable fight to consider next for Verhoeven providing Usyk does not, instead, take on the rising contender, Agit Kabayel. Usyk, post-fight, even responded positively to Kabayel’s claim to be next, saying: “Let’s do it; no problem. I’m ready.”

Alalshikh has the power to nix Kabayel next should he consider Usyk vs Verhoeven to be unfinished business. And, for Verhoeven, it “would be huge” to have hometown advantage in the Netherlands.

“A Good Fight” – Rico Verhoeven Open to Clash With Former World Champion

A do-over with Usyk is not the only thing Verhoeven has in mind, though. Providing the opponent is a big name, he told us he’s all-in. However, there is one bout that Rico admitted sounded “good”.

A fight with Tyson Fury presents its own problems because of Verhoeven’s relationship with Peter Fury, together with the fact that he’s been a reliable training partner for Tyson, too. “I don’t think so,” Verhoeven said, of that possible match-up, with Fury returning to the sport with a decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, earlier this year.

That leaves Anthony Joshua, whom Verhoeven was linked with before AJ’s tragic car accident. Verhoeven said Joshua has two fights already planned in 2026 — the first, against Kristian Prenga in July, ahead of his showdown later this year against Fury.

How about a scrap with Deontay Wilder in the United States? “That would be a good fight,” Verhoeven told us.

“These are big names,” Verhoeven said, looking at all the options. “They are the top dogs in boxing, and so I’m ready for every single one of them.”One thing is clear. He has no intention of crossing over into mixed martial arts, in the UFC, or atop a Most Valuable Promotions event on Netflix, against Francis Ngannou in MMA. “I want to stay in boxing,” he said. “But we’ll see what comes up.”

He continued:“There are so many different players in the fight game right now, and so many requests coming our way these last few days. We will just slowly review every one [of them].”

One thing is clear — Verhoeven wants his “second fight [to take place] this year.”

Newcastle United have opened talks to sign Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli as a replacement for Anthony Gordon, according to TEAMtalk.

The Magpies have struck an agreement with La Liga giants Barcelona to allow Gordon to depart in a deal worth £70m, with the winger set to earn a whopping £300,000-a-week at the Camp Nou.

Eddie Howe is need keen to add reinforcements to the squad with the deal all but done, and the club have made their move to bring in a top target as his immediate and direct replacement.

Newcastle Open Talks to Sign Abde Ezzalzouli

Ezzalzouli, who has been described as a superstar, enjoyed a sensational campaign for Betis this season with 14 goals and nine assists in all competitions, as the team claimed a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

But the 24-year-old’s performances have attracted the attention of several clubs, including Newcastle, and now the Toon have made their move by opening talks over a mega-money deal to take him to St James’ Park.

Newcastle scouts had been keeping a close eye on the Moroccan even before Gordon’s move to Barcelona was agreed, and they have now accelerated that interest as he is viewed as the perfect replacement.

Ezzalzouli’s camp have been very open to a move to the Premier League and Newcastle, with the player attracted to their long-term project and the prospect of playing in England’s top flight.

Betis are expecting the winger to move on this summer and are currently pointing to his €60m (£52m) release clause. However, it’s understood that they would be willing to negotiate a slightly lower fee if clubs came forward with serious offers.

Newcastle Must Be Quick and Aggressive in the Market

Last year Newcastle were looking to go big in the transfer market, but they pondered too much and then suffered when other clubs stepped in for their top targets and best player, in Alexander Isak.

This summer, they simply cannot afford to make the same mistake again, and after agreeing to let Gordon leave early in the window, they have positioned themselves well to have time to find a replacement and ease the transition.

However, now they must get the deals done quickly too to help the new players settle in and give Howe time to work with his new squad. This is a deal which looks to be on the table to get done, and the club cannot afford to ponder again considering how much interest and competition there is in his signature.