Roy Keane in action for Man Utd
Roy Keane has discussed the players who were always "in the back of his mind" whenever he came up against them during his illustrious career. Renowned for his fiery temperament, Keane picked up an English record of 13 red cards throughout his 17-year career as a player.
Now working as a pundit, the legendary former Manchester United captain still carries the fierce mentality that defined his playing days. He regularly voices his frustrations with the modern game, criticising a footballing world that appears to have lost some of its bite.
In his opinion, minor shirt pulls can result in penalties, while traditional rivalries have increasingly turned into friendships, contributing to a more sanitised match-day experience aimed at younger supporters.
Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring for Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring for Manchester United.
Thankfully, this post-playing career has given Premier League fans a weekly dose of entertainment through the feisty Irishman's fiery analysis. His stories from his playing days only add to that appeal, and in his book 'The Second Half', he revealed the players he wanted to hit the most, naming those who had irritated the battle-hardened midfielder more than anyone else.
Keane Reveals More About His Relationship With Haaland
Haaland Keane
Perhaps Keane's most infamous dismissal came during the Manchester derby, when the Irishman was sent off for a horror challenge on Alf-Inge Haaland. The incident left the Norwegian injured and eventually contributed to the end of his career, before his son, Erling, would go on to dominate the Premier League years later.
In his book 'The Second Half', Keane reflected on his relationship with Haaland on the pitch and detailed what it was like to face him during matches.
"He was an absolute pr**k to play against. Niggling, sneaky. The incident took place in a match against City. But I'd played against him when he was at Leeds. The rivalry was massive between United and Leeds."
Haaland Wasn't The Only Player Who Irritated Keane
Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.
Keane also made it clear that Haaland was not the only opponent who got under his skin during matches. "Was I going around for years thinking, I'm going to get him, I'm going to get him'? No", Keane remarked. "Was he at the back of my mind? Of course, he was.
"Like Rob Lee was, like David Batty was, like Alan Shearer was, like Dennis Wise was, like Patrick Vieira was. All these players were at the back of my mind. 'If I get a chance, I'm going to f**kin' hit you.'"
It is therefore unsurprising that Patrick Vieira and Alan Shearer featured on Keane’s list, considering their well-known confrontations in the tunnel.
While the seven-time Premier League champion admitted that he wanted to leave his mark on certain opponents, the Irishman stressed that this was simply part of the old-fashioned game, making an important distinction between kicking someone and actually causing them an injury.
"That's the game. I played in central midfield. I wasn't a little right-back or left-back, who can coast through his career without tackling anybody. Or a tricky winger who never gets injured. I played in the middle of the park. There's a difference between kicking somebody and injuring somebody. Any experienced player will tell you that," he added.