KEY POINTS:
News that Roy Keane, the former Manchester United and Ireland soccer captain, is planning to just "keep his head down and watch" during a stint with the All Blacks in June will have come as a relief to the New Zealand Rugby Union's media handlers.
Keane, the manager
of Sunderland, is to spend time with the All Blacks as part of his studies for his European Football Association (UEFA) pro coaching licence, an obligatory qualification for managers in the English Premier League.
"What level of involvement I can have [with the All Blacks], just watching training or whatever, I don't know," Keane told the website tribalfootball.com.
"I have the green light to have three or four days with them.
"I don't know if I will be allowed into any team talks.
"I'll keep my head down and just watch them, try to plug into what they are always about."
Given his track record, it's unlikely Keane will be invited to hold any team bonding or public relations workshops.
One of the most decorated players of his generation, Keane made almost as many headlines off the field as he did on it. Opponents, coaches, teammates and fans have all been targets of Keane's wrath.
In 2002, he famously walked out of Ireland's World Cup soccer campaign after a row with manager Mick McCarthy over the quality of facilities at the team's training base in Saipan. Among other choice phrases, Keane told McCarthy to stick the World Cup "up your bollocks".
Manchester United's "prawn sandwich brigade" fans also copped it: "I don't think some of the people who come to Old Trafford can spell football, never mind understand it," he once famously opined.
Teammate Rio Ferdinand was cut down to size for his big-shot ways on United's own TV station - "Just because you are paid £120,000 ($299,000) a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham, you think you are a superstar."
But Keane saved his most famous rant for his autobiography, when he admitted intentionally injuring Blackburn's Alf Inge Haaland.
"I'd waited long enough. I ******* hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you ****."
Keane said his vicious foul, which helped to end Haaland's career, had been revenge for a previous incident when Haaland had accused him of faking an injury. He was banned for five matches and fined £150,000 over the admission.
Keane's stint with the All Blacks got the thumbs-up after All Whites and Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert approached All Blacks' management.
* ROY KEANE'S MADDEST MOMENTS
THE PRAWN SANDWICH RANT
"Away from home our fans are fantastic, I'd call them the hardcore fans. But at home they have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don't realise what's going on out on the pitch.
THE ALF INGE HAALAND RANT
"I'd waited long enough. I ******* hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that, you ****. And don't ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries.
"My attitude was, **** him. What goes around comes around. He got his just rewards. He ****** me over and my attitude is an eye for an eye."
THE SAIPAN RANT
"Mick, you're a liar ... you're a ******* ******. I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as a person. You're a ******* ****** and you can stick your World Cup up your arse. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country! You can stick it up your bollocks."
