Ex-Ireland boss lifts lid on Roy Keane 'bromance' and gives warning about hugging him

Ex-Ireland boss Martin O'Neill had the Late Late Show audience in stitches last night as he looked back on his five years working alongside Roy Keane, and shared some surprising advice about hugging the Corkman.

Appearing on Patrick Kielty's couch on Friday, the former Republic of Ireland manager recalled how then-FAI chief John Delaney reacted when he first put Keane's name forward as his number two back in 2013.

Kielty asked: "What was harder for you, convincing Roy Keane to be your assistant or convincing the FAI to allow Roy to be your assistant?"

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"Well, funnily enough, John Delaney was in charge of proceedings. He wanted me to be the manager, and I said to him, 'What about an assistant?' I said, 'I've got one in mind,' and he said, 'Who would that be? '" O'Neill recalled.

"I said 'Roy Keane' and then John fainted and fell down, because Roy had a spat with him some years earlier — who has Roy not had a spat with? In fairness, when he recovered after about 20 minutes, he said, 'Okay, go with it.' And it was honestly terrific, we had a lovely time. The last year wasn't so good."

The Kilrea man, who led Ireland to the last-16 of Euro 2016 with Keane by his side, was then shown photos of the pair embracing on the touchline.

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"This is long before Paudie was giving anybody a hug on The Traitors," Kielty joked, to which O'Neill quipped: "That was before I knew him. I wouldn't do that now. Definitely wouldn't. I'm older, a bit wiser, and Roy is having a beard."

O'Neill wrapped up with a tongue-in-cheek warning: "Don't go near him with a beard. I know I've said this before, but it's worth repeating: when he's got that big beard, and he's got that big density in there, just don't touch him. Leave him alone."

The former Celtic and Sunderland boss joined a stacked Late Late lineup that also included Nicola Sturgeon, comedian Neil Delamere, The Mary Wallopers, and survivors of the Miami Showband massacre.

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