Roy Keane’s combustible two-year spell as Ipswich Town manager is being revisited ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with his former club Manchester United. Ex-striker Kevin Lisbie has detailed the Irishman’s explosive dressing room behaviour, including threats to end players’ careers.

Lisbie, who played under Keane between 2009 and 2011, recalled a specific pre-season match in Ireland where the manager launched into a 40-minute tirade. “He spent 40 minutes just hammering players,” Lisbie said. “He told certain players, ‘You’re going to be working in McDonald’s in a couple of weeks… I heard we turned down a £1million bid for you and I would’ve snapped their hand off for it now.’”

Lisbie's personal clash

Despite scoring in that game, Lisbie was singled out. “He just walked up to me and said, ‘And I just don’t like you.” Lisbie explained. “We went back, and I never played for him again, so at least he was a man of his word.”

Lisbie suggested Keane preferred working with younger players he could mould, viewing it as a potential sign of insecurity. The striker’s account adds to previous criticism from other former players like Pablo Counago and Jon Walters, who labelled Keane a “complete mess” and a “liar” after his departure.

Car park confrontation

Keane’s fiery history with Ipswich extended beyond his tenure as manager. In November 2024, while working as a pundit for a match at Portman Road, he confronted a fan who was goading him from the stands. During an advert break, Keane approached the supporter and told him, “If you want to see me afterwards, I’ll see you in the car park.”

Keane later clarified his actions on a podcast, stating he was not angry but objected to being abused in front of children. “I went over to him twice… and he was swearing in front of kids,” Keane said. “I said, ‘If you want to see me afterwards’, and people thought I was asking him for a fight, I said, ‘I’ll see you in the car park’. Where else was I going to see him? He wasn’t there!”

Keane’s management stint at Portman Road lasted just under two years and ended with his sacking in January 2011 following a run of seven defeats in nine league games. His time is largely remembered for its turbulence rather than success. The current Ipswich squad, fresh from a winning start to their Premier League campaign, will now face Keane’s beloved Manchester United.

The teams meet at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, with Ipswich looking to build on their opening-day victory over Sunderland.