Known for his fierce persona both on the field as a player and off it as a pundit, Roy Keane has a reputation for delivering hard-hitting tackles and even harsher words on camera.

However, despite being considered one of football’s toughest figures, Roy Keane shows a different side when he’s with his family, emotionally connecting like any other grandparent.

The former Manchester United leader recently shared a glimpse of his softer side on Instagram with a collection of images from a family getaway marking his 54th birthday.

These posts included heartwarming moments of Keane playing in the pool with his grandchildren, assisting them in beach sandcastle-building, and proudly cradling his newest, and third, grandchild, who was born earlier this year.

The caption to his birthday post was as warm as the images themselves: “Happy Birthday to me. All the gifts I need.”

For a man whose career was built on grit and steel, it was a rare public glimpse of the gentler moments that matter most.

Even the toughest captains, it turns out, have a soft centre.