Roy Keane spotted at World Championships as snooker star reveals terrifying encounter with Man Utd legend at Crucible
FORMER world champion snooker star Neil Robertson revealed his crippling nerves playing in front of Roy Keane after the Manchester United legend was spotted at the Crucible.
Ireland icon Keane, 52, was in the crowd for the Friday evening session in Sheffield.
Known as a keen snooker fan, he previously watched Aussie Robertson seven years ago – a memory that the snooker star has never forgotten.
Speaking on BBC Sport, he said: “Around 2016 [2017] he was watching my match with Marco Fu.
“I remember coming down and glancing to my right and I was like ‘Oh my goodness, that looks like Roy Keane. Is that Roy Keane?’ Because he had this great big beard at the time. It was a bit of a disguise.
“I remember walking round the table and I’d see him and he’d be looking at me, looking at the table and I’d be so nervous.
“I was more nervous than playing the match itself – the fact I was in his presence.
“We don’t have that [set-up] anymore but it was fantastic to see and I definitely got my picture with him.”
The match in question is believed to be Robertson’s second round clash with Fu in 2017.
And 2010 champion Robertson ended up losing 13-11 as he was dumped out of the world championships.
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Keane was spotted at the Crucible final last year between Luca Brecel and Mark Selby.
But his history with snooker goes beyond just being a spectator.
Famously, he was convinced to sign for Man Utd over a game of snooker with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Keane was in talks with Blackburn Rovers, which Fergie had found out about.
So the legendary manager asked Keane to meet him for a game.
“From that moment, I was never going to sign for any other club,” the former midfielder revealed in his autobiography.