“In tackles, he was the master.”
Patrick Kluivert says that Roy Keane’s tackle on Marc Overmars in Ireland’s famous victory over the Netherlands at Lansdowne Road in 2001 was “very smart” on the former Irish captain’s behalf.
That win in qualification for the 2002 World Cup remains one of the most iconic results in the modern era of Irish football and the tone was set early on by the captain when he crunched into the pacey winger and earned a yellow card.
Kluivert recalled the tackle when JOE met him in London ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Barcelona last week and he also spoke of how the Dutch paid special attention to the current Ireland assistant manager in the run-up to the game.
The conversation formed part of Patrick’s effort at JOE’s Random Irish Footballer quiz; keep an eye out for that on the site in the coming days.
JOE and 20 Irish football fans were surprised with the trip of a lifetime to meet Kluivert and take in Arsenal v Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium last week and you can see how it all came about here.
To celebrate teaming up with the UEFA Champions League, Doritos are on hand to get you #GAMEREADY with prizes from official UEFA T-shirts and footballs, to tickets to the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final in Milan. To be in with a chance of winning visit www.game-ready.com.
