Roy Keane and green army march from ‘I Keano’ at Olympia

Bearing the steely-eyed, unyielding glare of a Roman centurion, Roy Keane marched from the Olympia Theatre on Friday without uttering a word on the latest run of the I Keano stage play.

Flanked by security and a column of silent players and staff, his green army went straight and silently to their chariot – an awaiting bus to whisk them away. If this was light pre-match entertainment, it didn’t show in the facial expressions.

Robbie Keane, Shay Given, manager Martin O'Neill and what appeared to be most of the squad, all kitted out in tracksuits, left through the side door of the venue following the comedy send-up of Roy Keane's disastrous departure from Saipan at the 2002 World Cup.

Resurrection

First staged in 2005, I Keano was resurrected for this latest run, according to promoters MCD, "to celebrate Roy Keane's decision to concentrate exclusively on his role with the FAI as assistant coach".

If that was an overture to the quick-tempered emperor of Irish football, then his presence appeared to be a thumbs-up.

The team was enjoying a little relaxation time in the build-up to their European Championship qualifier against Poland on Sunday.