Giovanni Trapattoni and Roy Keane's feud escalated at Euro 2012 on Sunday, after the Republic of Ireland coach dismissed criticism from the country's former captain by questioning his managerial record.
In an aside to the Italian press at a pre-match press conference ahead of Monday night's match against Italy, Trapattoni claimed: "Non ha mai vinto un cazzo," which translates in his mother language as "He [Keane] has won f**k all."
Trapattoni was asked about Keane's comments earlier in the week after Ireland were beaten 4-0 by European and world champions Spain, as well as the ITV1 pundit's comments in his Sun on Sunday column.
He said: "I have already said he was a very great player who achieved great success. But I don’t think he has achieved the same results as a manager and I ask him, why is that? What has he won for f***s sake?”
Prior to analysing Holland and Portugal's Group B encounter on Sunday evening, Keane was asked on live television for his reaction to Trapattoni's comments.
“The reaction, as usual, is over the top. I actually never criticised the manager.
"I said the players need to change their mentality, and the fans. I understand he’s going to defend his players. But to come out with all that nonsense about what have I done as a manager?
Keane responds at ITV1's Warsaw base
Keane won the Championship with Sunderland in his debut season as a manager in 2006/07 before keeping them up in the Premier League the following campaign. He left in December 2008 before an unsuccessful spell at Ipswich Town which he admitted "didn't work out".
The former Manchester United skipper suggested the Irish coach's impressive track record "doesn’t mean to say he shouldn’t be criticised".
In his weekly Sunday column, Keane stated his dismay at the "win, lose, we're on the booze" mentality that Ireland have ostensibly become synonymous with.
He was also irked at the tributes paid to the vocal travelling support by some of the squad members, who he asserted were not the "top players they thought they were".
'''You'll never beat the Irish?' It's time for that song to be put away because, at the moment, everyone is beating them.
''The likes of (Robbie) Keane, Shay Given, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea and Damien Duff are picked every game as they have a big reputation. A reputation for what? They hadn't qualified for anything in 10 years."
Keane urged Trapattoni to make 11 changes for the final Group C match with Italy in Poznan on Monday evening, yet the 73-year-old announced there would be just one switch from the side slaughtered by the Spaniards. Kevin Doyle will come in for Simon Cox up front.
