Roy Keane was right on the money after hearing Andy Cole’s story about how he fell out with Kevin Keegan during their Newcastle days.
The prolific goalscorer won everything there was to win with Keane at Manchester United but he first enjoyed a strong spell with the Magpies before heading to Old Trafford.
The former footballer moved to the Red Devils in a shock transfer back in January 1995 and it all stemmed from an argument he had with Keegan a year prior.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the 52-year-old opened up on the matter – prompting the ex-Ireland to dish out a quick-fire response.
‘I never asked to leave, I just had a fall out with the manager,’ Cole said of his swift exit from Newcastle.
Without missing a beat, Keane quickly interjected saying: ‘You’re worse than me!’
The Corkman’s departure from Man United in 2005 was infamously acrimonious thanks to his bitter falling-out with Alex Ferguson.
Cole then opened up on his split with Keegan, which involved the future England boss telling him to ‘f**k off’.
‘We played Southampton at the Dell,’ he continued. ‘After the game we went up to London because we had a League Cup game midweek.’
‘I remember we lost the game 2-1. The morning after, we had a warm down.
‘The manager greeted me and asked if I was up for it this morning. I was honest with him and said I was a little bit tired, but I was up for it still.
‘He said that if you are not up for you can f**k off. I turned around, had a shower, packed my bag then left.’
The situation eventually simmered down after a meeting with Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepard, and although the striker ended up with a new contract, he was nevertheless out the door by the start of 1995.
‘I thought that was the end of it, but Kevin holds on to things,’ he added.
‘The year later by Christmas he moved me on. He told me, “everyone found out about the situation and we must change the way we play, and it’s great that you can move onto a club like Manchester United where you can go and win trophies.”
