Ex-Sunderland winger ‘pulled knife’ on Roy Keane during training bust-up

December 9, 2025 Oliver Obel

A story from Roy Keane’s days in charge of Sunderland has resurfaced, with two former players sharing a moment they say captured the volatility and the personalities inside the club at the time.

The account came up during a recent episode of the Undr the Cosh podcast, where ex-Sunderland forwards Martyn Waghorn and Chris Brown swapped memories that ranged from lighthearted to unexpectedly tense. Midway through the conversation, Waghorn paused and asked Brown if he remembered the moment when teammate El Hadji Diouf “pulled a knife in the kitchen.” Brown didn’t hesitate: “I was there with Dioufy…”

A flashback to a complicated era

Keane’s spell on Wearside, from 2006 to 2008, included promotion to the Premier League and a squad built partly through his Manchester United connections. As outlets such as the BBC and The Guardian have previously reported, the Irishman preferred strong personalities and high standards—traits that didn’t sit well with everyone.

Diouf was one of the more unpredictable figures to arrive under Keane. After becoming a star at the 2002 World Cup and moving to Liverpool, he later joined Bolton and eventually made the switch to Sunderland in 2008. His stay was briefjust 16 appearances before he left for Blackburn. Even so, teammates remember him vividly.

The moment that stuck

Waghorn recalled a disagreement between Keane and Diouf after a training session. As he told it, Diouf walked out of a room holding a bread knife, prompting Keane to spin around and confront him immediately. Brown, listening beside him on the podcast, confirmed the scene much as Waghorn described it.

According to Waghorn, Keane delivered a typically direct instruction: “Put that away, Dioufy, I don’t know who you think you are.” And then, just as quickly, he returned to whatever he had been doing. The players said the whole exchange lasted only a few seconds, yet left a lasting impression.

A glimpse behind the public image

Stories like this often resurface years later, usually told with a mix of disbelief and humour. Whether every detail is remembered perfectly is almost beside the point; former players frequently use these anecdotes to sketch the atmosphere of a particular dressing room. In this case, it offers another glimpse into Keane’s uncompromising management style and Diouf’s combustible reputation.

Sunderland, Keane, and Diouf have not publicly commented on the anecdote.

Sources: Undr the Cosh podcast; BBC ; The Guardian