Roddy Collins: ‘I went off missing, to England, with Vinnie Jones, having a few pints, for a day or two...’

Candid tales of football, family and everything in between – it’s no surprise The Rodfather's memoir is just brilliant

Roddy Collins at The Merrion Hotel. Photo by Steve Humphreys

Emily Hourican

Footballer, manager, and broadcaster, Roddy Collins is a big man, with big emotions, and a big life. He seems to attract controversy – and cause it – effortlessly. Right now, it’s a row about Sky Sports apologising for the behaviour of Celtic football fans around the time of the Queen’s funeral. Next week, it’ll probably be something else.

We meet on a sunny morning in the Merrion Hotel ahead of the publication of his autobiography, The Rodfather, which he co-wrote with Paul Howard.