Gallagher: Keane should take over

Pop star Noel Gallagher has challenged Roy Keane to do better than Giovanni Trapattoni has as coach of Republic of Ireland.

Keane was critical of the team during his work as a television pundit at Euro 2012, where Ireland crashed out at the group stage and failed to take a single point from their three matches.

Speaking in Croke Park ahead of a performance in support of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Dublin, the former Oasis guitarist said Keane should try his hand in the top job.

“Roy (Keane) is pure comedy,” he said. “He should take over the Ireland job if he thinks he can do it better than anyone else.

“I’ve never met him but he probably hates me like everybody else.”

The musician is a Manchester City fan, but expressed his admiration for Manchester United legend Keane as a player.

“He is easily one of the top five players that the Premier League has ever had,” Gallagher said.

“I thought he was a great player for United. If only England had Roy Keane now, they would win games.

“He was the one player who could take a game by the scruff of the neck and bully his team-mates from three goals down to win. He was immense.”

Despite being born and raised in England, Gallagher had a strong Irish upbringing and was an accomplished Gaelic footballer in his youth, even making an appearance at Croke Park in 1983 for Manchester club Oisin’s in a game against Kilmacud Crokes.

Recalling the occasion, Gallagher said of Croke Park: “It’s all done up now. I’m not sure there was even seats. I scored a point but I can’t remember at which end.”