“He was the benchmark.”
Jermaine Jenas has praised the “underappreciated” aspect of Roy Keane’s game, saying the Irishman was an excellent passer and doesn’t get enough credit for his ability on the ball.
The former Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder was speaking about Keane’s influence on matches during his time at Manchester United.
“I think one of the biggest parts of Roy’s games that’s massively underappreciated was his passing, and his ability to dictate the tempo of the game,” Jenas told SportsJOE.
“There’s a lot of focus always on the chaos, the kind of screaming and shouting all the crazy tackles but he played in an era where you really had to earn your right to be in that midfield.”
Keane won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League across an 18-year playing career, becoming one of the most influential players of the last few decades.
Jenas also spoke about what it was like to play against the Corkman in the centre of the pitch.
Read next: One of Roy Keane’s best qualities as a player is criminally overlooked and underrated.
“I played against Roy, though in the latter stages of his career, where he was dominating games from a deeper position in midfield,” the BT Sport pundit said.
“Whereas in the early parts of his career, he was running by people and scoring goals. I think, for all midfielders, he was the benchmark.”
Jenas also spoke about his experience playing alongside another Irish Premier League legend – Robbie Keane.
The pair enjoyed success at Tottenham Hotspur and were part of the team that won the League Cup in 2008. Jenas said Robbie was the best Irish footballer he played alongside.
“Robbie Keane is number one, in my opinion,” he said.
“I’m not saying that he is the same player at all, but he falls into this same bracket, and the bracket is how people think of Wayne Rooney.
“For some reason, you don’t think of him as the same as Alan Shearer or Harry Kane, or how we are looking at Erling Haaland as just goalscorers.
“And it’s because they add so much more to the game, and Keano is exactly like that.”
Jenas shared the pitch with Keane for five seasons over the Dubliner’s two spells at Spurs. Ireland’s record goal-scorer netted 122 times in his 306 appearances for the club.
Leading sportswear brand Dare 2b is pleased to share the second drop of their partnership with Football Pundit and former professional footballer Jermaine Jenas, following sell-through success with drop one.
The collection will available online at www.dare2b.ie and in selected Regatta stores across Ireland.
Related links.
- Bruno Fernandes admits Man United players were scared after Marcus Rashford incident
- Man United have been the Premier League’s best team since Cristiano Ronaldo left
- Paul Scholes compares Man United midfielder Casemiro to Roy Keane
- Newcastle fans banned from drinking on trains for Carabao Cup final
- Shay Given believes that only two Liverpool players would make Newcastle team
- Roy Keane reminds everyone of his feelings towards Newcastle United ahead of cup final against Man United
