Manchester United legend Roy Keane announces unexpected departure from punditry role

Roy Keane has announced his intention to step away from his punditry roles in the media amidst rumors that he is considering leaving the industry altogether.

Keane - ranked at No.6 in FourFourTwo's list of the best Premier League midfielders of all time - has worked with and ITV Sport since his retirement in 2006 but has since hinted he is considering a future away from football.

The former Manchester United midfielder was attacked whilst at the Emirates Stadium, with Micah Richards forced to step in and help the tough-tackling Irishman.

Roy Keane reveals he is tempted to move to Switzerland in a bid to step away from his punditry duties

While visiting Turin as part of The Overlap On Tour, Keane admitted: "In the next couple of years, I reckon I will be moving abroad... putting it out there." colleague Jamie Carragher then asked Keane where he would consider moving to.

"Do you know what, Switzerland, maybe? Switzerland is beautiful," responded Keane. Keane's admission comes after he revealed at the start of the season that he is considering quitting punditry.

"I love football but the hassle of matches, getting to games and the hassle of fans – I was in court a few months ago with somebody head-butting me – do you think I enjoy that side of it? Absolutely not," Keane said recently when reflecting on his incident back in September 2023.

"The games are fine. Getting to the games, parking up, people shouting your name – good stuff, bad stuff – it's a nuisance. Being a pundit in 10 years, not."

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Reflecting further, Keane was forced to recall the incident in court, adding: "I grappled with him. I said what did you do that for?

"He was saying f*****g this, f*****g that. I grabbed him and moved him down the corridor. I had him. I couldn't hold him for long enough so he run off. I was trying to restrain him until security arrived. He said, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry'."

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In FourFourTwo's view, Keane would be a huge miss in the media world, but we can see why he is considering time away from our TV screens. Made popular given his ongoing comical spats with Micah Richards, Sky would struggle to find a similar character.

Keane's former side, Manchester United, are back in Premier League action this weekend, as they take on Leicester City at Old Trafford.