Roy Keane spent 12 years as a Manchester United player but left in controversial circumstances in 2005, and has been vocal about the team in his time as a pundit
Comments
Sport
Roy Keane
Roy Keane has continued to be associated with Manchester United long after his exit in 2005
(Image: Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Image)
Roy Keane has never been far removed from Manchester United almost 20 years after his controversial Old Trafford exit. The iconic midfielder won 13 major honours during his 12 years at the club, and is regularly seen assessing United games as a pundit.
Despite his legacy at the club, Keane agreed to leave by mutual consent in November 2005, stemming from comments made on MUTV about his team-mates following a heavy defeat to Middlesbrough. Two decades later, he pulled no punches as United, who sit 16th in the Premier League, continued to fall well below his standards.
"If they don't win [the Europa League final] next week, I think the days of everyone wanting to go to Manchester United are gone,” Keane told Sky Sports after United’s loss to Chelsea on Friday. “I don't think there'll be players looking to sign for Manchester United. That's gone, that bit of excitement with the club.
"The fans, even here tonight, I don't think the United fans are angry anymore. It's just an acceptance. Even the manager's interview there, he's accepting where they are.” Here’s a closer look at how Keane’s relationship with United has altered over the years.
Reaction to exit
Keane has spoken extensively about his shock exit from United. The former captain would end his career at Celtic, but the club’s decision had a long-term impact on Keane’s relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Irishman was known as a tough-tackling midfielder with a hardman persona on the pitch. However, when speaking on the Stick to Football podcast in February, he admitted the emotional toll that it took on him: "When I left United, I did cry that morning. Cried in my car,” Keane said.
It was not the first time Keane had reflected on the raw emotion that came with his departure from United. “I think the only time I really cried was when I left United after I had a bit of a disagreement with a few people, but other than that you're very much in that bubble," Keane previously told Tommy Tiernan.
"You're in the zone. I always say I was in the zone. I used to say to people, and they didn't quite understand it, I was going to war every week."
Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson
Keane fell out with Ferguson due to the way his United exit was handled
Building bridges
The manner of his exit meant that Keane had a different view of the club than many of his United team-mates, despite being crucial to the glory that they achieved under Ferguson. However, almost 18 years later, Keane shocked supporters by appearing in the reveal video for United’s third kit in 2023.
A joint statement from the club and kit manufacturer said: “Manchester United and Adidas are proud to work with Roy Keane, one of the club’s most iconic and popular former players. Roy won 17 trophies with Manchester United, his fearless playing style and never give up attitude has earned him a special place in the hearts of Manchester United fans around the world.”
Tipped for new role
Keane has been vocal about United's relative underachievement since Ferguson stepped down as manager in 2013. The 53-year-old has been brutally honest in his assessment of various United players, but former team-mate Mikael Silvestre feels that the club can use Keane’s feedback to their advantage, and backed him to join current boss Ruben Amorim’s staff in an advisory role
“I think it would be great for Roy Keane to play a role at Manchester United,” Silvestre told Yaysweepstakes.com. “Because, the thing is with Roy, he always treated everybody exactly the same way. It didn’t matter if you were a new signing, an old guy, the manager, everybody.
"That's how he got respect. That's how Sir Alex got respect. If you treat everybody the same, no problem. I think it’s a bit of a problem with this generation of players. They find criticism harder to take.
"If Roy Keane was involved at Manchester United, if he was on the inside with the group, he would have to protect and work for the group. You wouldn’t see him criticising players in public, so there wouldn't be any issue.”
Roy Keane and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Roy Keane was invited back to the club by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Return to the club
Ex-United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer agreed with Silvestre and saw the value in the expertise that Keane could pass on to his squad. In 2019, Solskjaer invited Keane to the club’s Carrington training ground to speak to the players, four years before he would feature in the kit reveal video.
In terms of how the meeting unfolded, a source told the Mirror: “As you’d imagine, Roy has strong views on what it takes to be a proper United player, and he gave it to them straight.
“He wasn’t impressed with one player who didn’t seem to be all that interested and looked as if he’d rather be somewhere else. But for the majority, it was a fascinating snapshot into the hunger and desire that drove Roy during his time at the club.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe message
Keane may have reached some form of truce with United in recent years, but that has not prevented him from sharing his thoughts on the current hierarchy. Before Erik ten Hag was replaced by Amorim this season, Keane suggested that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and those in charge of football operations had undermined the Dutch coach by changing his backroom staff.
"I'm not saying he's not a good manager or he hasn't got good coaching staff, but in the summer they changed all the coaching staff,” Keane argued on the Stick to Fooball podcast. “So you're on about a manager having a bit of power and control of the football club – I'll bet you Ten Hag's got none of that!
Roy Keane and Erik ten Hag
Keane felt his former side undermined Erik ten Hag
"So players will look at the manager and go, 'Well, all your staff went in the summer. I didn't see you fighting for any of them. You're bringing more staff in.' I just think it looks chaotic, doesn't it?"
Keane has been frequently touted for the United job, despite last managing Ipswich Town in 2011. There was speculation that he could follow in the footsteps of United legends Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs, and Michael Carrick by taking charge on an interim basis. However, Keane quickly shut down the suggestion, having already critiqued the manager’s lack of power at the club.
"They're not gonna be asking me. They just wouldn't... they just wouldn't,” Keane told Arsenal great Ian Wright. When asked about the possibility of taking over at Old Trafford on a short-term basis, Keane said: "I'm not leaving you, Wrighty.“
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.