Gary Lineker has told Micah Richards why Manchester United icon Roy Keane does not rank ahead of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira when it comes to football IQ.
Roy Keane shared a legendary rivalry with Patrick Vieira during the height of Sir Alex Ferguson’s iconic feud with prolific former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
The 54-year-old Irish hardman pulled no punches towards former midfielder Vieira during their encounters in heated Manchester United matches against the Gunners.
Former Man Utd captain Keane was a linchpin leader for Sir Alex Ferguson’s former Red Devils sides, while Vieira shared a similar role for Arsene Wenger’s men.
READ MORE: I love Paul Scholes, but his direct Man Utd message to Michael Carrick shows he still doesn’t understand it
Manchester United legend Roy Keane, pundit and former player, looks on prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match between England and Serbia at Wembley Stadium in 2025 in London, England.
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Can you recall the player who scored two goals for Man Utd, including in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match?
Getty Images
Gary Lineker questions Roy Keane’s ‘tactical’ insight amid comparing Man Utd icon with Arsenal hero Patrick Vieira
Gary Lineker linked up with Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards and Premier League legend Alan Shearer for a special Patrick Vieira-themed episode of their podcast.
Richards asked who would come out on top out of ex-Arsenal captain Vieira and Manchester United legend Roy Keane if the pair had to be separated for football IQ.
More United News
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, the former Manchester City and England right-back asked: “Football intelligence: is it the same or not?
“You say Vieira?”
Lineker broke his silence on the matter and the former England and Barcelona striker revealed he sided with Vieira over Keane for tactical football insight.
“Only in terms of, I’ve heard him [Vieira] talk about the game a lot and I’ve heard Roy talk about the game a lot,” he explained.
“But when Roy talks a lot about the game, I never hear anything tactical. I don’t see him talking analytically.”
READ MORE: Rough form or not, Bryan Mbeumo has already ‘won’ by snubbing Tottenham for Man Utd this season
How many of Sir Alex Ferguson’s 13 titles were achieved without Man Utd being the OUTRIGHT top scoring team?
Can you name each of them?
UIF quiz1
Getty Images
Gary Lineker explains what stood out most about Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira ahead of Man Utd legend Roy Keane
Keane has become a leading figure in punditry – and a TV box-office attraction – after the legendary ex-Man Utd midfielder bowed out of management and coaching.
Lineker spotlighted that both Keane and Vieira went into management and both struggled, but he was more impressed with the Gunners icon’s IQ in interviews.
“Obviously, Vieira went, they both went into management and neither of them was particularly successful,” he continued.
“And I wonder, I mean, but I did interview Patrick in New York when he was in charge of New York City and he was really interesting tactically.”
Keane led Sunderland and Ipswich Town in his managerial career and later served as assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox