Roy Keane, the former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland captain, has revealed that he kicked the habit of smoking at the tender age of 11.
Keane, who grew up in Cork, Ireland, and later moved to England to join Nottingham Forest, shared his story on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast. He credited the 1982 World Cup as the inspiration behind his decision to quit smoking.
During the podcast, host Gary Neville read out a question from a listener, asking what tournament made him fall in love with football. Neville himself replied, “1982 World Cup,” recalling Bryan Robson’s goal and watching the game after school.
Roy Keane recently said on The Overlap that he stopped smoking cigarettes at the age of 11
Keane then joined the conversation, saying, “100 per cent agree. ’82 World Cup, amazing. I remember we used to play football after the games in the evening.”
“In 1982, I would have been 11. I was with my friends and we were playing football, and we’d have the odd cigarette when we were about 11. I was playing and they went: ‘Are you having this?’ And I remember going: ‘I’m giving them up. I’m giving them up. I want to be a footballer. I’m giving them up, lads.'”
Keane said that he decided to quit after being inspired by watching the 1982 World Cup, which was famously won by an Italy team containing Paolo Rossi (left) and Claudio Gentile (right)
Keane’s story, told with a cheeky grin, left his fellow panelists, including Neville, Jill Scott, and Ian Wright, in stitches.
Italy won the 1982 World Cup in Spain, defeating West Germany 3-1 in the final at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland were among the 24 teams that participated in the tournament.
Ian Wright (left) could not contain his laughter as Keane told the story of him quitting smoking
Scotland exited during the first group stage, while England and Northern Ireland were eliminated at the end of the second phase. The Golden Boot was won by Italy forward Paolo Rossi.
Keane went on to have a brilliant career, representing Manchester United 480 times.