Keane brands former Man Utd coach Queiroz a 'dead fish' ahead of World Cup clash with England

Roy Keane has savaged former Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz, declaring the 73-year-old had the ‘personality of a dead fish’ during their time together at Old Trafford — comments that land just as Queiroz prepares to face Thomas Tuchel’s England at the 2026 World Cup with Ghana.

The Portuguese coach served as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at United, playing a central role in a period that yielded three Premier League titles and the Champions League. Despite acknowledging Queiroz’s defensive coaching credentials, Keane was unsparing in his wider verdict.

“Brilliant coach, huge question marks over him as a manager,” Keane said, appearing on ITV’s coverage examining England’s World Cup rivals. “I felt like he had the personality of a dead fish when I worked with him.”

Keane also expressed concern about Ghana’s tactical approach under Queiroz, warning: “I just hope they don’t become too defensive. One of Carlos’s biggest strengths was his defensive side of the game.”

Queiroz, for his part, has spoken with enthusiasm about the tournament, pointing to Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo as one of Ghana’s standout players. “When you talk about football in Ghana, it is in the blood, it is everything,” Queiroz said. “The talent is here so it is an explosive combination to succeed.”

However, Queiroz has also drawn criticism for naming Thomas Partey in his World Cup squad. The former Arsenal midfielder, currently at Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault involving four women between 2020 and 2022, with a trial scheduled for next year. Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku has previously stated his support for Partey’s inclusion.

Asked about any reservations over the selection, Queiroz was unapologetic. “If the player is here with me, my answer is clear. I don’t have any comments about my own decisions,” 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.”