The Second Half

By: Roy Keane, Roddy Doyle

Narrated by: Roy Keane, Stephen Hogan

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

Narrated by Stephen Hogan and introduced by Roy Keane.

In an 18-year playing career for Cobh Ramblers, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United (under Sir Alex Ferguson) and Celtic, Roy Keane dominated every midfield he led to glory. Aggressive and highly competitive, his attitude helped him to excel as captain of Manchester United from 1997 until his departure in 2005. He played at an international level for nearly all of his career, representing the Republic of Ireland over 14 years, mainly as team captain, until an incident with national coach Mick McCarthy resulted in Keane's walk-out from the 2002 World Cup.

Since retiring as a player, Keane has managed Sunderland and Ipswich and become a notably contrarian pundit for ITV. He is assistant (to Martin O'Neill) manager of the Ireland team. The TV analyst reflects the manager, the player, and the man himself, the unique Roy Keane - Keano.

As part of a tiny elite of football players, Roy Keane has lived and experienced what very few people could ever imagine. His status as one of football's greatest stars is undisputed, but what of the challenges beyond the pitch? How did he succeed in coming to terms with life as a former Manchester United and Ireland leader and champion, reinvent himself as a broadcaster, and cope with the psychological struggles this entailed?

This book is a personal odyssey, a blend of anecdote and reflection which re-evaluates the meaning of success. In following his personal struggle to reinvent himself, confronting a few demons along the way, The Second Half blends memoir and motivational writing in a manner which both disquiets and reassures in Roy Keane's original voice, in a stunning collaboration brilliantly captured with Man Booker Prize-winning writer Roddy Doyle.

©2014 Roy Keane and Roddy Doyle (P)2014 Orion Publishing Group

Brilliant and honest football book

Roy Keane is a somewhat misunderstood guy imo. This was an excellent 'tell all' book, one I think he wanted to get out there in response to the Fergie book. Excellent story on his playing career and a deep review of his management and post-playing career.

The performance was fantastic, nice that a paddy did the audio to get more immersion!

Heartbreaking

This is a good book, keano is obviously a person who attracted the press by the very nature of his personality. Someone who demands a lot from himself, far more than the average person. At the end of the book, we build a picture of a man who will perhaps never arrive at personel inward peace. He is a legend, a guy who I truly believe to be one of the greatest engine room players the game has ever seen, in the mould of Beckenbauer, Pele, Cruyff, those kinds of personalities. .... A good read,

Magnificent reflections on a great career

This book is one of the deepest and most sincere auto-bios I've ever read/listened to and I have come across some truly great ones. The second half is up there with the best. It's a book full of sincere reflections, self-critiques, regrets, lessons and happy memories. You really feel that Roy has opened himself up for this one. It wasn't something he did just because he wanted to put out a book...he had something to say and wanted to get it out into the world.

I usually don't enjoy football books (though I'm a huge football fan) because they are full of recollections of how games went, with not too much substance in them. But Roy's book is something else. Just listen to the intro and you'll realize that this auto-bio is truly magnificent.

Cannot rate it high enough! Great book, great performance of the reader and great feeling listening to it!

keano!

A great listen, was fantastic to hear the story behind many of the situations the media may have twisted in the past. What a great character, 100% recommend people listen to this.

Overall it was OK.

I was looking forward to reading this book. It starts of and it was fantastic I was looking forward to the next time I could listen. From the middle to the end it was up and down. I wanted to finish it but the story was kinda boring. In the second half there was a lot of talking about matches Roy had as manager at Sunderland that I felt was filler. I didn't care for this and felt it was not needed in such detail.

I finished the book and didn't hate it. I am neutral on it. I hoped for more.

Didn't want it to end!

What did you like most about The Second Half?

I like the insight, a few things I didn't know. But most of all the honesty.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked listening to Roy's take on life after Manchester United. His reflections on his time at Sunderland and what he learned at Ipswich. Most of all his contentment and enjoyment as No.2 for Ireland.

What does Roy Keane and Stephen Hogan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I have to say I would have preferred that Roy read the whole book.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed most of the time - it's a great story. I enjoyed his achievement at Sunderland.

Any additional comments?

He's simply a good bloke. Complex character, flawed like everyone. I enjoyed listening to this second part of his career and look forward to reading the next chapter in time to come as he goes onto more success in management when he moves on from his current role with Ireland.

6 people found this helpful

Narrator was hard to listen to

Would you try another book written by Roy Keane and Roddy Doyle or narrated by Roy Keane and Stephen Hogan ?

I wouldn't listen to another book narrated by Stephen Hogan , Roy Keane's intro is great but as soon as Hogan takes over the book loses any edge. he ruined the book in my opinion -I had to switch it off

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Roy Keane and Stephen Hogan ?

Roy should have read the whole book himself or else stayed out of it completely - He set a tone which Stephen Hogan couldn't follow

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Yes

10 people found this helpful

Excellent listen.

Having been a fan of Roy Keane as a player I wanted to find out what makes him tick. I found out in this book about his life after Manchester United, his spells at Sunderland, Ipswich and Celtic. A real honest tell all book, I really enjoyed it.

2 people found this helpful

Quality

Funny, honest and very difficult to stop listening. I never really warmed to Roy until I read his books.

2 people found this helpful

Excellent for any football/sports fans

Even as a Liverpool fan, loved it. I recommend any football fans to give this your time, I don't believe you will be disappointed.

2 people found this helpful

great book keano

A United great. shame he left under a cloud but hes the sort of person were a quiet exit would not have suited

1 person found this helpful

top class

fantastic book.
NY first audio book with audible. easy download and went through chapters with ease.

1 person found this helpful

better than average football book.

Would have prefered if keane read it. The boy calls dalymount dollymount at least twice.

1 person found this helpful

excellent

keano speaks his mind and not just the bits he thinks people want to hear. well worth a listen.

1 person found this helpful

Honest & Entertaining

really enjoyed this book, a more relaxed, open, honest and very funny book by Roy Keane.

1 person found this helpful