Featured Links

84 Soccer Coaching Drills For Coaches - CLICK HERE To Download Now!

Animated Soccer Drills & Coaching Software - Get FREE Instant Access

Yoga and Soccer

Roy Keane - the Manchester United star - when he first started practicing Yoga three years ago, he was physically exhausted after the classes. Now he is joined by Ryan Giggs and David Bellion in the regular sessions organized by Old Trafford's physio. And Roy, who has been riddled with injuries, sees a huge difference in his body.

"There are benefits. You loosen the muscle and take pressure off your joints," he said. As well as team training and yoga, he sticks to a strict diet - salads are one of his favorites. ROY says yoga helps loosen his joints and keep him fit.

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice, dating back to 2500 BC. It is a scientific system designed to bring better health and happiness to those who practice it.

In Yoga, both the body and mind are exercised. And the focus is on stretching, postures, breathing, and meditation.

Roy Keane Bio

Sir Alex Ferguson has labeled him the best player he’s ever worked with, while aspiring footballers and United fans worship the ground he walks on.

Whatever your view on Roy Keane, there’s no doubt he is the epitome of the unwavering spirit and desire to succeed that Manchester United stands for.

Few sportsmen lead from the front in the way Keane does, both on and off the pitch.

Images of him rallying his team-mates whilst covering every blade of grass have been, and still are, frequent occurrences on the field. He is also not afraid to speak his mind in front of the media, particularly if he feels his colleagues are not reaching the high standards he expects.

The Cork-born midfielder began his career with Cobh Ramblers after failing to gain an apprenticeship in English football.

Brian Clough later took him to Nottingham Forest before he completed a then record £3.75million switch to Old Trafford in the summer of 1993.

Keane began his United career with two goals on his home debut in a 3-0 win over Sheffield United.

The combative midfielder went on to win the first of his seven Premiership medals in his debut season and has since added a European Cup, an Intercontinental Cup and four FA Cup winners’ medals to his collection.

He took over the United captaincy from Eric Cantona at the start of 97/98 campaign, but his season was cut short by a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in a tackle with Leeds’ Alf-Inge Haaland at Elland Road in September 1997.

The 98/99 season saw Keane experience a range of mixed fortunes. On his way to leading United to their historic Treble, a sending-off in the FA Cup semi-final replay victory over Arsenal was followed by a yellow card during arguably his greatest display in a Red shirt in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus, forcing him to miss that unforgettable night in Barcelona when United were crowned European Champions.

Aside from his influential displays for United, Keane - a former winner of both the Footballer of the Year and the Players' Player of the Year awards in 2000 - has also proved an inspiration to his country and he now has over 50 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

A huge bust-up with former Republic boss Mick McCarthy which led to Keane’s premature departure from the 2002 World Cup looked to have put paid to his international career, but he made a shock return to action in May 2004.

Despite his ageing limbs, Keane - whose current United contract runs out at the end of the 2005/06 season - continues to be an inspiration to all those around him.

Source: Manchester United