Robbie Savage stated that he would have joined for Sunderland under Roy Keane.
I chatted with Niall Quinn, an ex-Manchester United, Birmingham City, and Blackburn Rovers man who wanted to join for Sunderland.
By daniel abwa
Keane, then Sunderland manager, has related the tale of the club’s close call with Savage several times, stating in his book that he opted not to sign the player after hearing his voicemail greeting.
Savage, previously of Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United, Leicester City, and Birmingham City, will instead join Derby County.
“I spoke to Niall Quinn at Sunderland and the chairman at Derby – both wanted me, both agreed a fee, and I agreed to meet Roy Keane at the Marriott in Hale,” Savage was quoted as saying.
“He’d call me, we’d organize a meeting, and then I’d travel to Derby to make a decision. I went to my agent’s residence in Wigan, but there was no reception. Because of the Budweiser commercial on TV, my phone message was, ‘It’s Robbie, wazzzup!’.
“Roy did not call, and I did not receive an indication that someone had rang. By 2 or 3 p.m., nothing had happened, and I needed to be in Derby by 5 p.m.
“I called Niall and told him, ‘Roy hasn’t called; if the manager can’t even bother to call me, I’m not coming.'” I went to Derby and signed for them.
“All he had to do was chat with my past managers, and they would have said, ‘Great in the dressing room, would give you everything, and a better player than people believe’. As a manager, surely you don’t leave voicemails.”