Roy Keane name drops Damien Duff as his ideal assistant

August 21, 2025

Roy Keane has name-dropped Damien Duff as the man he’d like beside him if he ever steps back into the dugout.

The Manchester United legend was full of praise for his fellow Irishman following Duff’s stint in charge of Shelbourne.

Duff dramatically quit as Shels boss two months ago following three and a half years in charge.

He guided his side to the league title last season, the first time Shelbourne were crowned League of Ireland champions since 2006.

Duff was then tenuously linked with a move to the Premier League as assistant to new Brentford boss Keith Andrews, but that didn’t come to fruition.

Roy Keane praises Damien Duff

Speaking on the Overlap podcast alongside the likes of Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Jill Scott, the focus switched to who they would want as an assistant if they were a manager.

Neville kicked them off by suggesting his brother Phil, despite their disastrous time at Valencia.

Carragher said the current Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, Wright responded Martin Keown, Jill would want Keira Walsh before attentions turned to Keane.

He said: “I’d go with Damien Duff.”

Neville asks ‘Are you close with Damien Duff?’ in which Keane replies ‘No’.

He then continues: “But I know him and he’s done a good job in Ireland and he’s just left the job. It’s just dynamics.

“The way he speaks, the way he comes across. He’s done his coaching with Ireland, won the league with Shelbourne last year and just left recently.”

When Neville mentions how Duff can be “spiky” in interviews, Keane joked: “Yea you need that as well. He’d be the bad cop and I’d be the good cop.”

Stick to Football: Episode 90!

Roy’s Man Utd Contracts
✍️ Ranking Summer Signings!
Can Rashford Shine at Barca?
Favourite Football Memories

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— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) August 21, 2025

Roy Keane ranks Manchester United’s signings

Following their 0-1 defeat at home to Arsenal last weekend, the pressure is already on Ruben Amorim to pick up their first points of the campaign at Fulham on Sunday.

Manchester United are the 21/20 favourites to pick up three points at Craven Cottage with Irish bookmakers.

Amorim needs his new signings, including Benjamin Sesko, to hit the ground running and they discussed whether the summer arrivals will be a hit or miss.

Asked about Sesko, Keane responded he was ‘unsure’ and agreed that the weight of the shirt may be a burden on his success.

For Bryan Mbeumo, Keane believes he will be a hit, adding that he is tenacious and dogged. He also thinks Cunha will be a positive signing, with Neville highlighting his personality.