Roy Keane calls ex-Liverpool star "one of the best lads I've ever come across"
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has opened up about managing Djibril Cisse, branding the former Liverpool striker "one of the best lads I've ever come across".
Cisse joined Sunderland on loan from Marseille in 2008 while Keane was the manager, having previously spent two seasons in the Premier League with Liverpool. The Frenchman went on to enjoy an impressive campaign, scoring ten league goals in 35 games to help keep them up.
And Keane has reflected on the decision to sign Cisse, having been warned against the deal amid concerns over the forward's attitude. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, Keane said: "Sometimes you don't know a player until he walks into the building.
"I've made lots of phone calls and people will say, 'He's a good lad,' or 'I'm not sure.' I remember when I tried to get Djibril Cisse and every one said to me that he wasn't a great lad, but I took a chance, and he was one of the best lads I've ever come across.
"You honestly don't know a player until he's walked into the building." Cisse, meanwhile, told FourFourTwo magazine in 2020 that he felt Keane "got the best out of me" during his time at the Stadium of Light.
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"Oh, I love the guy," Cisse said when asked about his time playing under Keane. "Marseille had spent some money on new players by then, so when my agent contacted me and said Roy Keane would like me to join Sunderland on loan, I considered it.
"I wasn't getting enough match time at Marseille, so I thought: 'Why not?' Roy was brilliant. I was never nervous around him. We have a lot in common and both take football very seriously - I never forgot how important any club was.
Keane and Cisse worked well together at the Stadium of Light (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)"Roy was always very straight with me and got the best out of me. I remember one game: at half time we came in and I hadn't played great; not that bad, but I hadn't been myself. Roy walked in and went for me.
"Oh my god, he was screaming at me - really crazy, loud. It took me back 15 years when Guy Roux used to shout at me as a kid. I realised what Roy was doing. Like Guy, he was trying to get me going. So, I lifted my head up and smiled. I smiled, knowing what he was doing.
"Well, Roy just got even angrier. 'What the f**k are you smiling for?!' Anyway, after 10 minutes I scored and sprinted over to him on the touchline. 'Well done, boss. I know exactly what you were doing!' He looked at me like I was mad. But I did love the guy."
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