‘He was at his nicest during yoga’ – Roy Keane had memorable battles against Man City and Arsenal but former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre recalls his off pitch persona

Roy Keane fought for everything on the pitch - but that was work, it's what he was paid to do, so how did he calm himself away from the midfield tussles with Patrick Vieira and co? Yoga.

Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre played with the midfielder for a number of years and gave an insight into what his former captain was like away from the pitch.

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"We spent some times talking at the training ground, but where he was at his nicest was probably where we did yoga," he told

"It was me, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - we went once or twice a week.

"It prolonged his career I’d say - it prolonged Giggsy’s for sure.

"I was already stretching a lot before going to Manchester United but for these guys it was kind of new, and they enjoyed it."

Keane, though, wasn't sure it benefited him much.

In a light hearted comment in conversation with Gary Neville, he said as he recalled a 2003 game. "We played Real Madrid one time at home, but I just tried yoga a couple of days before that and I couldn’t get going.

“My energy . . . I couldn’t get a kick. I was taken off, and I remember thinking ‘I’m finished with real top level football’,” he added.

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He wasn't finished, however, and played until his relationship with the club came to an abrupt end in 2005 after 12 years of service, including eight as captain.

In a glittering career at Old Trafford that lasted nine years, Silvestre won it all for the club.

Playing 361 times between 1999 and 2008, he helped Man United win four Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and the Champions League.

A big part of that success was undoubtedly the quality, but also the harmony throughout the squad.

As for Keane, he ought to be careful as people might start to think he is nice and cuddly, with talkSPORT Laura Woods explaining what he's like to work with.

"I just think he's the best person," she said.

“He was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I’ve worked with him once before in the Carabao Cup final last year and was a little bit scared of him because you are as you know his persona.”

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