Keane brands ex-United coach Queiroz 'personality of a dead fish' ahead of World Cup

Roy Keane has publicly questioned the managerial credentials of former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz, describing the 73-year-old Portuguese coach as having had ‘the personality of a dead fish’ during their time together at Old Trafford.

Speaking on ITV’s World Cup preview coverage, Keane offered a pointed assessment of Queiroz, who is now in charge of Ghana ahead of this summer’s tournament. ‘Brilliant coach, huge question marks over him as a manager,’ Keane said. ‘I felt like he had the personality of a dead fish when I worked with him.’

Keane also expressed concern about Ghana’s likely approach under Queiroz, warning that the team could become overly defensive. ‘I just hope they don’t become too defensive. One of Carlos’s biggest strengths was his defensive side of the game,’ he added.

Queiroz served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at United, playing a key role in a period that delivered three Premier League titles and the Champions League. Since leaving Old Trafford, he has managed at international level with Portugal, Iran, Colombia, and Egypt before taking charge of Ghana.

Ghana will face Thomas Tuchel’s England at the World Cup this summer, with Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo among their most prominent attacking options. Queiroz has spoken enthusiastically about the assignment, saying: ‘When you talk about football in Ghana, it is in the blood, it is everything. The talent is here so it is an explosive combination to succeed.’

Queiroz has also faced scrutiny over his decision to include former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey in his World Cup squad. Partey, who now plays for Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault involving four women between 2020 and 2022. The 32-year-old is set to stand trial next year.

When asked about the selection, Queiroz declined to elaborate on his reasoning. ‘If the player is here with me, my answer is clear,’ he said. ‘Let the events run their normal course; let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean we are going to find the truth.’ Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has previously stated his support for Partey remaining in the squad.