Quinn was in Saipan when Keane had his infamous spat with Mick McCarthy which divided Irish football before the 2002 World Cup finals.

He later attempted, without success, to bring Keane back to the squad.

But the pair buried the hatchet in 2006 when Quinn, as chairman of Sunderland, persuaded Keane to become manager.

However, interviewd on RTE's Tubridy Tongith on Saturday, Quinn admitted there were times during his playing days when he was afraid of Keane.

He told the interviewer: "I'll tell you a story, I haven't told a lot of people this, but maybe tonight's the night to say it.

"Roy was that focused in our Irish team, he was younger than me and I think I'd just broken the international goalscoring record.

"I was meant to be one of the top guys in the team, and I can remember one day in the hotel corridor going up to have dinner and Roy was coming the opposite way.

"I had given a ball or two away in training that day and I just walked into an open door and there was somebody in there, one of the Irish kitmen.

"I went 'just shut up, just talk to me there for two seconds ... right he's gone now.'

"Roy had that amazing sort of grit and focus, that I just didn't want him to see me in the corridor.

"In those days I was scared of him. Therein lies what Roy Keane is."