Mark Clattenburg reveals ‘you would never, ever trust Roy Keane’ and that Jose Mourinho ‘hates’ him

Mark Clattenburg has revealed that he would ‘never, ever trust’ former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as the former Premier League referee opened up on getting Jose Moutinho sacked and his next tattoo. 

The 45-year-old left England’s top flight back in 2017, having been regarded as one of the best officials in world football. Clattenburg oversaw the 2016 Champions League final as well as the Euro 2016 final before leaving England. 

The highly-rated official upped sticks for Saudi Arabia three years ago, replacing Howard Webb as the country’s head of refereeing before becoming a referee in the Chinese Super League.

Mark Clattenburg has opened up on refereeing Roy Keane and his run ins with Jose Mourinho

The 45-year-old is regarded as one of the top flight’s best ever referees before he left in 2017

And Clattenburg has opened up on his experience refereeing former United bad boy Keane, who was notorious for intimidating officials during his illustrious career at Old Trafford. 

Clattenburg once recalled an anecdote in which he awarded a corner kick against United but changed his mind and gave the side a goal kick after the Irishman screamed at him.  

‘No, I made some banter about it. I made a joke about it and then it went viral,’ he told Paddy Power’s From the Horses Mouth podcast. ‘I remember saying that I gave a corner and he screamed at us, so I gave a goal kick.

But Clattenburg admits he was intimidated by Keane when he started out as a young official

The 45-year-old said he would ‘never, ever trust’ the former United captain as a referee

‘It was just a bit of a fabrication, but you know what? That’s the way he was. He used to shout and scream at you and sometimes you’d be like, woah, what’s going on there. 

‘Especially when I was a young referee, I was probably a little bit intimidated, but then the more I got to know him, you see a different side of him especially when he’s working as a pundit.

‘When he was on the pitch, oh my god he was a player that you would never, ever trust because he would put a tackle in and as a referee, if you missed it, you were the one that got the blame – not Roy Keane for actually making the tackle.’

Clattenburg revealed that Jose Mourinho blames him for his sacking at Chelsea in 2015

Mourinho was said to have been wary of Clattenburg when he became Man United boss

Clattenburg has overseen his fair share of high-profile matches, having to remain calm under considerable pressure with the knowledge that his decisions could have a marked impact on a team’s fortunes.

And the former Premier League referee revealed that Spurs boss Mourinho has attributed the blame for his second Chelsea sacking at his door.      

‘Well, he blames me for getting him the sack at Chelsea – but I would say it was more all of the results before that, too. He was hard work when he came back from Real Madrid, and well, I got him the sack at Chelsea.

‘When he went to Manchester United, he was thinking the same thing – I’m going to get him the sack, so he was always anti-me. In general, managers like Sir Alex, at the time it was all about if they win you were the best referee in the world.

Clattenburg also revealed he will be getting a tattoo of the Chinese Super Cup next

He already has Champions League, Euro 2016 and London 2012 tattoos after refereeing all three finals

‘There was only one team that really hated me when I was in the Football League, and that was Wigan. Wigan didn’t win for 13 matches, so it didn’t matter what I did, they never won.’ 

The 45-year-old is also well known for his collection of tattoos, with the referee having the Champions League and Euros trophies inked on his arms. Clattenburg said his next addition will be the Chinese Super Cup trophy.    

‘I need to get the emblem for the Chinese Super Cup,’ he added. ‘I was supposed to go back, but because of COVID it ended my contract, so I never got the chance, but I’ve left a load of clothes there. I wonder if they’ll send them back over?

‘I haven’t got any more room on my arms so it might have to be on another part of my body. I’ll let you guess. It won’t be on my legs anyway.’