Roy Keane had a playful response after his daughter Leah’s fiancé, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, scored his first goal for England during their 5-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland. Harwood-Bellis, who is set to marry Keane’s daughter, made his senior debut for the Three Lions in a memorable match for both his career and Keane’s sense of humour.
The Southampton defender, 22, made an immediate impact after coming on as a substitute in the second half, scoring the match’s final goal with a powerful header. While it was a proud moment for the young player, it also set the stage for some light-hearted comments from the former Ireland midfielder and current ITV pundit, Roy Keane.
Speaking on ITV, Keane joked: “It’s bittersweet for me this. It is not done and dusted yet. Let me tell you, things can change very quickly in the Keane household.”
Keane, who earned 67 caps for Ireland between 1991 and 2005, showed pride and playful caution as he spoke about his future son-in-law’s debut. While the goal was a fantastic personal achievement for Harwood-Bellis, Keane made it clear that, despite the goal and his upcoming wedding to Leah, the future still had plenty of surprises.
Keane added, “Over the last few months, he has had a goal threat, even when playing for Southampton. It’s nice for him. It’s good for him to make his debut. Like I said, he has a goal threat. He’s a nice kid, his family have done a great job, he is a nice kid.”
Despite his teasing tone, Keane’s comments revealed his genuine respect for Harwood-Bellis, both layer and person. Harwood-Bellis’ goal was a significant moment in his international career, adding another highlight to his young career. The defender’s rise to prominence in the Premier League and international football is a source of great pride for his family, especially his fiancée Leah, Keane’s daughter.
While Harwood-Bellis’ debut goal took centre stage, the Republic of Ireland’s manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson, was left to reflect on a disappointing night for his team. Ireland had started the match with some promise but fell apart following a sending-off for Liam Scales just moments after a penalty was conceded.
Hallgrímsson was visibly frustrated with his team’s collapse, suggesting that the red card devastated his players. “Well, I’m kind of lost for words,” said the Icelandic manager. “Six minutes of kind of madness. Yeah, it was a shock, conceding a penalty, conceding a goal, losing a player. We probably lost our heads at this moment.”
The floodgates opened after the sending-off, and Ireland conceded three goals in just six minutes, effectively sealing their fate in the match. Hallgrímsson acknowledged that the team’s lack of confidence played a crucial role in their downfall: “We’ve talked, and I said before we’re struggling with confidence, and they took away all confidence from what we did well in the first half. So, yeah, you cannot explain things like this. It’s just happened, a slap in the face, and it was difficult to return from it.”
For Harwood-Bellis, however, it was a night to remember. His goal and England’s dominant performance reflected his rising potential as a critical player in the national squad. The Southampton defender will look to build on this impressive debut as he continues to establish himself in international football. And for Keane, while his daughter’s engagement may still be “not done and dusted,” he can at least take pride in seeing his future son-in-law make his mark on the world stage.
As for Harwood-Bellis, his performance on such a big stage is a testament to his hard work and dedication in his career so far. The future looks bright for the 22-year-old as he aims for further success with England and Southampton.
