“It’s good to get angry,” former Manchester United captain Roy Keane once said. “It’s an emotion and part of the game. It’s good to go a bit mad but I don’t throw teacups around. That’s not my style – I’d rather throw punches.”
Throughout his illustrious career, Keane loved to intimidate his opponents with his no-nonsense and unapologetic style of play. From standing over an injured Alf-Inge Haaland to confronting Patrick Vieira in the Highbury tunnel, he often seemed to come out on top.
But that wasn’t always the case.
Back in February 1994, Keane was still in his first season at United following his move from Nottingham Forest. The midfielder had just started to assert his authority in games, bullying anyone that dared to stroll into his territory.
Like facing the final boss at the end of Super Mario, he now had to come up against Vinnie Jones in an FA Cup tie against Wimbledon. Part of the ‘Crazy Gang’ team that won the FA Cup in 1988, Jones had returned to Wimbledon for a second spell and certainly hadn’t mellowed.
He relished conflict and was renowned for his full-blooded approach to the game, often ensuring that his opponents lived off a diet of grapes and Lucozade for a few weeks after playing Wimbledon.
Vinnie Jones recieves the fastest booking in English football, as he clattered into an opponent after 3 seconds. pic.twitter.com/WvYWal9raX
— 1990s Football (@1990_football) July 14, 2021
When you look up ‘tough guy’ in the dictionary, you’ll see Jones’ face snarling back at you. He had even angered the FA by releasing a Christmas video entitled ‘Soccer’s Hard Men’ in 1992.
“The FA have given me a pat on the back,” Jones said after being fined £20,000 and receiving a suspended six-month ban from all football. “I’ve taken violence off the terraces and onto the pitch.”
While Jones was widely regarded as the hardest bastard in British football, Keane was still the young pretender at this stage, hoping to ultimately overthrow him.
Jones made his presence known during the early stages at Selhurst Park, barging into Keane with a tackle that was later than a London bus.
It temporarily left Keane in a heap on the floor, but this foul was a warm embrace compared to what was to follow.
Keane attempted to hit back, only for Jones to leap off the floor and headbutt him in the crown jewels. Considering what Jones did to Paul Gascoigne in 1987, Keane might actually consider himself a bit fortunate.
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