Roy Keane and Alf-Inge Haaland have been locked in a fiery battle for almost 30 years
Pundit Roy Keane during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2 match between England and Greece at Wembley Stadium on October 10, 2024 in London, England.
Roy Keane has held a grudge for almost 30 years(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
View Image
Every fiery moment from Roy Keane and Alf-Inge Haaland's feud:
Initial Incident (1997): The rivalry began in September 1997 during a match between Leeds United (Haaland) and Manchester United (Keane). Keane attempted to challenge Haaland but instead suffered a serious injury, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Feigning Injury Accusation: As Keane lay injured on the ground, Haaland stood over him and reportedly accused the United captain of feigning injury. Haaland's actions incensed Keane, who would spend the rest of the 1997-98 season recovering from his injury.
Keane's Desire for Revenge: Keane later admitted that he never forgot this moment and harboured a desire for retribution against the Norwegian midfielder. He felt Haaland had sneered at him during a career-threatening injury.
The Infamous Tackle (2001): The feud came to a head four years later in an April 2001 Manchester derby, where Haaland was now playing for Manchester City. Keane delivered a savage, knee-high tackle on Haaland's right knee just before the end of the match.
Keane's Dismissal and Comment: Keane was immediately shown a red card for the brutal challenge and walked straight down the tunnel. As he left, he stood over Haaland and claimed he said: "Take that, you c***. And don't ever stand over me again sneering about fake injuries."
Autobiography Confession: In his 2002 autobiography, Keane confessed that the tackle was deliberate and he had intended to hurt Haaland. He wrote: "I'd waited long enough. I f***** hit him hard."
Increased FA Sanctions: Keane's honest admission of intent in his book led to further punishment from the Football Association. His initial three-match ban and £5,000 fine were extended with an additional five-match ban and a hefty £150,000 fine.
Haaland's Career Impact: Alf-Inge Haaland claimed he never played a full 90-minute match after the infamous tackle and retired in 2003. He maintains that the tackle effectively led to the end of his professional career, even though he had pre-existing issues with his left knee (the tackle was on the right).
Keane's Denial of Intent to Injure: Despite his book's confession, Keane later insisted he only meant to "hurt" Haaland, not deliberately injure him and end his career. He pointed out that Haaland finished the game and played for Norway a few days later.
Modern Day Continuation and Live TV Dig: The feud has a modern dimension, as pundit Keane gets to criticise Haaland's son, Erling, who plays for Manchester City. Following a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in 2024, Keane told Sky Sports: "In front of goal he's the best in the world, but his general play for such a player - it is so poor. Not just today. He has to improve that. He's almost like a League Two player - that's the way I look at him. His general play has to improve. It will do over the next few years. [He's a] brilliant striker but he has to improve his overall game."