Roy Keane shows soft side as Man Utd legend's daughter Caragh deals with heartbreaking illness

Caragh Keane set up her business with the help of father Roy

Irish international midfielder Roy Keane developed a reputation as one of the Premier League's iconic hard man. However, during a podcast appearance alongside his daughter Caragh, the former Manchester United captain showed another side to his personality.

Caragh was diagnosed with Lupus in 2021 and has set up a health food company - with her father's support - in an effort to treat her autoimmune disease with diet. The pair were in the studio together to speak about Roy's help setting up the business, called Superkeen, and the ex-footballer spoke candidly about family life.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, fellow panelist Jill Scott joked with Keane about his struggle to fend for himself when wife Theresa and his children are out of the house. "I survive, but I miss them when they're away," he said.

Caragh was then asked what her father is like at home. "He is the most supportive person. He definitely loves his routine - if that is off-kilter, we know about it," she said, drawing a smile from Roy.

Earlier, she had spoken about the launch of Superkeen, which is now being stocked in a number of high street stores, and the help her father provided. And her old man relayed how it all got started.

"When you started you asked me to support you, I said 'Yeah go for it girl'," he said. "Then we set up a business meeting… 'Can I have some money daddy?' That was all the business meeting! Really short!

"I said yeah, take it, whatever you need. It was more than what I thought to get a company up and running, it's been hard work, the ups and downs."

Roy Keane on screen with daughter Caragh

In an earlier interview with PA Real Life, Caragh spoke of the support her parents after her Lupus diagnosis. She suffered from alopecia and joint pain, among other effects, but saw clear improvement after changing her diet.

"Life was over. (There was) no way out," she said. "I wouldn't be here without them (mum and dad). When I was diagnosed, I mourned the person I had been and the person I felt I should have been.

"The fatigue was unbearable but you just power on. I was essentially bed-bound for a month-and-a-half. I had been experiencing fatigue and memory loss for about six months. Since your immune system is essentially attacking itself, you feel like you only have yourself to blame."