Manchester United has been home to some of the best footballers the nation has ever seen over the years, but few have been irreplaceable.
Sir Alex Ferguson spent 27 silverware-laden years managing Manchester United, achieving an unprecedented level of success in this time, across different eras.
Most memorably, Sir Alex led United to a treble in 1999. He also won a Champions League in 2008, with his trophy record meaning Sir Alex is widely considered the best manager of all time.
This meant that the club legend had to rebuild his team on multiple occasions, with no player bigger than the team as he regularly replaced key players with names ever better.
David Beckham was effectively replaced by Cristiano Ronaldo, while Wayne Rooney was the successor to Ruud van Nistelrooy.
However, some players are simply too big of a presence to be replaced. Eric Cantona ticked this box, as did Ronaldo and Rooney. Former midfielder Alan Smith has explained a United player from his era who was impossible to replace.
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Alan Smith says Roy Keane was irreplaceable
One of United’s best-ever captains and players generally was Roy Keane, with his ability still something fans are dreaming of finding again today.
Keane was not only an elite midfielder, but his mentality and leadership played a massive role in the club’s success. Therefore, when he departed, it was always going to be tough for the club. Before Keane left United, he had injury woes, with Alan Smith revealing back in 2020 the story behind him being viewed as a replacement all the way back in 2005.
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Speaking on The UTD Podcast Smith was asked about his transformation into a central midfielder and the impact Keane had on this, in which he told of the importance of Keane.
“It came a little out of the blue, to be honest. It was only because Roy was having a big problem with his hip so when we went to preseason, it was just something that we tried.
“Roy Keane was probably impossible to replace as a player and as a character and especially at Manchester United. I still don’t think it’s been done now, and they have been crying out for someone like a Roy Keane to be in the dressing room and on the field.
“Nobody could ever replicate it [his impact] so I just tried to do as good a job as possible in a similar position. It was a case of trying to learn the role of the position and do it to the best of your ability, as a replacement for one of the best midfield players that there has ever been.
“So, it was a difficult task.”
20 years on and Manchester United still need a new Roy Keane
Keane left United in 2005 for Celtic, a dream come true for the Irishman, but the hole he left in United’s midfield has proved impossible to fill. This is the case right up to this day.
Despite having some sensational midfielders at the club after Keane, like Michael Carrick and Paul Pogba, neither ultimately had the impact of Keane, which means the search goes on.
Roy Keane for Manchester United
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However, Ineos may have found a player with the raw qualities to become the new Keane on and off the pitch, this coming in the form of Chris Rigg.
Rigg has been compared to Keane by his former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray, with his technical ability supplemented by his character and leadership abilities for United.
With Rigg expected to be on the agenda this summer, the 20-year wait could come to an end with a replacement for Keane secured. Smith will be delighted…