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9 reasons why we're excited about Roy Keane's return to punditry

The Ireland assistant boss is set to be part of ITV’s coverage of Chelsea v PSG.

1. He’s not afraid to criticise big-name players… Irrespective of whether or not Steven Gerrard is in attendance

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2. He’s the best (at least according to Ian Wright)

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3. Forget Saipan, forget his problems with the FAI and forget his feud with Fergie, his love-hate relationship with shaving has easily been the most compelling and talked-about saga in Irish sport in recent times

4. He usually has something interesting to say on the latest breaking news developments

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5. We all know that he not-so-secretly hates doing it

On punditry, Keane famously said at the launch of his latest autobiography:

“I didn’t feel it was a challenge. It just didn’t rock my boat and I felt I had a lot more to give to football. I wanted to be involved, in terms of coaching.”

“It just didn’t rock my boat and I thought ‘I’m better than this’. I feel bad saying that. I wanted to be more hands on.”

Furthermore, in 2008, he said he would only consider a job in punditry “if I fall on hard times,” and added:

“I was asked by ITV to do the Celtic versus Manchester United game but I’ve done it once for Sky and never again. I’d rather go to the dentist.

“Anytime I watch a game on television, I have to turn the commentators off. They say ‘he’s playing well’ and I’m thinking ‘no, he’s not’. My advice to anyone is don’t listen to the experts, just watch the game and gather your own opinions.”

Also, this…

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6. Terrifying and hilarious in equal measure — there’ll be plenty of scope for the return of the infamous ‘Roy Keane death stare’

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7. Prepare for more awkward reunions with plenty of his old foes 

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8. Love or hate Keano, you can never accuse him of giving the predictable response

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9. Keane and former teammate Paul Scholes should be an interesting combo on the ITV panel

Newcastle v Manchester United PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

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